Great News If You travel Abroad With Your Pets

For those of us that travel abroad with our animals there is some good news, from 1 January 2012 it will be cheaper and easier to travel abroad with pets, this is because the UK will be harmonising its rules governing pet movement within the rest of Europe.

The Pet Travel Scheme has been successfully operating in Europe since 2004, its introduction will allow the UK to continue to maintain the high levels of protection we currently have against animal disease whilst bringing the UK into line with modern scientific advances and updating a system first devised in the 1800s.

As is currently the case all pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies and dogs must be treated for tapeworm, there will continue to be important checks being performed before animals are allowed to enter the UK.  This scheme could save many UK pet owners around seven million pounds in fees, around £100 in vet fees per animal travelling inside the EU and approx £2,500 in quarantine fees for those travelling outside the EU.

The Animal Welfare Minister Lord Taylor has said that from the 1 January it will be cheaper and easier to travel with your pets thanks to new rules being put into place as part of the Pet Travel Scheme.  Modern science has made tremendous advances since the first quarantine rules were introduced in the 1800s.  As we now have vastly improved vaccines and treatments we need systems in place to reflect this, instead of the current system which places an unnecessary burden on pet owners who want to take their animals abroad with them.  He then stated that - it is about time the government made changes that allow pet owners to travel abroad more easily and cheaply with their beloved pets whilst still maintaining our high level of protection against animal diseases.  As the Pet Travel Scheme has been operating successfully in other countries since 2004 it is now time to put it into practise here so as from the 1 January pet owners in the United Kingdom will also be able to take advantage of its sensible and proportionate rules.

From the first of January this year under the Pet Travel Scheme, pets from the EU and other countries with robust veterinary systems (listed non-EU countries), for example the USA and Australia, will be still be required to vaccinate pets against rabies and then wait a further 21 days after vaccination before they are safe to travel.

However pets from unlisted, non-EU countries, such as India, Brazil and South Africa, will need to meet much stricter criteria.  This will include a vaccination against rabies, followed by a blood test, and finally a three month wait after the blood sample before they can enter the UK.

Also all dogs must be treated for tapeworms up to five days before they enter the United Kingdom.  As good practice all pet owners planning to travel abroad with their animals are advised to discuss with their vets their travel plans and be clear what they are required to do some time before their travel dates, this is all part of good animal health practice.

Ireland and Sweden will also be bring its pet travel rules into line with the rest of the EU from the 1 January 2012.

Hope this has been useful and will help you when you are making your travel plans for both you and your animals, of course al with all holidays you may need to buy some new collars leads beds for your pets so just go back to our home page at www.petshouse.co.ukand getting buying all the things you will need for your perfect holiday.