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Taking pets abroad?
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How to bring your pet dog or cat into or back into the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
Pet dogs and cats (including guide and hearing dogs) that are resident in either the United Kingdom or one of the other qualifying (listed) countries can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the Scheme.
The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, in partnership with other UK assistance dog organisations, Defra and a number of UK airlines has produced a set of guidelines for assistance dog owners wishing to use the Pet Travel Scheme.
Please remember that assistance dogs entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme must meet all of the rules of the Scheme please refer to this site for further details about the Scheme rules or ring the PETS Helpline on 0870 241 1710.
Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS requirements.
Animals from unlisted countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival in the UK.
To bring your dog or cat into the UK under PETS from one of the listed countries you must have it first microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested. There are no exceptions to this order of preparation apart from the exemption explained in the next sentence. If your pet is resident in certain countries these procedures may be done in a different order.
There are no requirements for pets travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
To visit our PET FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION CLICK HERE
This page gives a short summary of the PETS rules. More detailed information is available on the DEFRA website by clicking here
Please make sure that you have read and understood all of these pages before you bring your pet into or back into the UK.
Where PETS procedures can be carried out
Your pet can be fitted with a microchip in any country. The rabies vaccination (including boosters), blood sampling, issuing the PETS documentation and the tick and tapeworm treatment must all be carried out in the UK or any of the other qualifying countries.
The six month rule for entry or re-entry to the UK
Your dog or cat may not enter the UK under PETS until six calendar months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood sample which led to a satisfactory test result. Once the vet has issued the PETS documentation and that six month period has passed, the PETS documentation is valid for your pet to enter the UK.
The 21 day wait before moving from one EU country to another.
There is a 21 day wait before your pet can enter other EU countries.
The procedures
Have your pet microchipped
Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified.
Have your pet vaccinated
After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination
Arrange a blood test
After your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies.
Get PETS documentation
For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate although note that Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports.
Before your pet enters the UK, it must be treated against ticks and a tapeworm
Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworms not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it is checked in with an approved transport company for its journey into the UK.
Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route
Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
Listed countries, transport companies and routes
Dogs, cats and ferrets may only enter the UK under PETS from EU and certain non-EU countries. They must not have been to any unlisted countries in the 6 calendar months before entering or re-entering the UK.
Transport companies and routes
Only certain transport companies and routes can be used to bring dogs, cats and ferrets into the UK. All of the transport companies shown on the DEFRA site have been given approval to carry dogs, cats and ferrets but not all may wish to carry ferrets. Check with the company before booking that they are willing to transport your pet.
For further details please visit the DEFRA website by clicking here
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