9th edition of the pet friendly holiday guide for 2009.
A guide to understanding the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
Published 01/Dec/2004 © k9directory
3 July 2004 marked the inauguration of the Pet Travel Scheme PETS which is an EU-wide passport program for dogs, cats, and ferrets.
PETS is designed to allow covered pets from participating countries to enter the UK without having to go through quarantine provided that they meet all of the requirements of the scheme.
It also allows pets in the UK to travel to other participating countries and re-enter the UK without having to undergo quarantine. PETS calls for issuing a pet passport which details the animal's identity and vaccination record as well as tick and tapeworm treatment.
A grace period running through 30 September 2004 enables pet owners who have been issued a UK Pet Travel Scheme certificate before that date to continue using it until it expires.
Although PETS was originally designed to cover animals traveling on the Continent it was extended to other countries that have voluntarily joined the scheme. As of the date of this article those countries are:-
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Participating EU countries include:
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This reciprocity agreement essentially means that animals traveling between these countries can be brought back into the UK without being required to go into quarantine. There are some exceptions so be sure to check before you go. For example, your pet must not have traveled outside any of these participating countries for six calendar months before the date of entering or re-entering the UK. Another exception is that you are not allowed to bring your pet into the UK if it has arrived on a private boat or plane. It is best to check with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the most up to date requirements and changes.
How to Comply
In order to be eligible for a PETS passport your pet, including guide and hearing dogs, must:
1. Be fitted with a microchip
When your pet gets microchipped it is assigned a unique identification number. This number, along with the pet owner's name and contact information, is entered in the national PetLog database which stores over 2,000,000 records. The database may be accessed by authorised officials including dog wardens, animal welfare centres, and PETS officials. The chip can be read by passing a special scanner over the area where the microchip is imbedded.
Microchipping your pet is not a major procedure. It involves a simple puncture where the chip, no bigger than a grain of rice, is inserted under your pet's skin. There is no recovery period required and your pet feels no more pain than she does with a simple vaccination.
Make sure that you request and receive an ISO (International Standards Organisation) certified chip. Some countries, such as France, will not accept a chip which is not ISO certified.
2. Have a current rabies vaccination
Your pet must receive an approved "inactivated" rabies vaccine and a certificate attesting to that fact must be issued and signed by the vet.
3. Be blood tested at an EU-approved laboratory and receive satisfactory results.
The lab will perform a Rabies Titre Blood test which indicates whether or not the rabies vaccine is active and is capable of protecting the pet from Rabies. The test must indicate that the antibody titre is equal or greater than 0.5IU/mL in order for your pet to pass.
If your pet fails the blood test then it must be re-vaccinated and blood tested in about six months.
4. Have a veterinarian's certificate attesting to treatment for tapeworm and ticks.
24 to 48 hours before you depart from the UK, your pet must receive treatment to prevent ticks and worms. Your vet must sign a certificate which confirms the treatment.
5. Have a declaration of residency signed by the pet owner.
This form is completed whenever you depart the UK. The declaration states that the pet has not been outside of the confines of the member countries for six months prior to the date of departure. This form is available at the UK Consul General Office and at many of the air carriers who serve the UK.
In addition to all of the above, your pet must leave and re-enter the UK on a travel route which is approved by PETS. You can see if your planned route is approved by visiting the DEFRA website.
When you are entering or re-entering the UK with your pet you can expect to have her documentation checked by transport staff who are assigned PETS compliance duties. If all of your pet's papers are not in order then it is likely that she will be placed into quarantine or be refused entry.
Certain exemptions are available for travel between member countries for dogs and cats which have not yet reached the age of 3 months and are unvaccinated. They must still be accompanied by a passport and they must have stayed since birth in the place in which they were born. In addition, they may not have had any contact with any wild animals that may have been exposed to rabies.
Traveling to Non-PETS Countries
If you are traveling with your dog, cat, or ferret to any country which does not participate in the PETS scheme then your pet may be subject to the usual quarantine period when you return to the UK. Exceptions are made but the circumstances vary depending upon the country visited as well as the status of your PETS certificate. You should always check the re-entry requirements before you leave.
Summary
The PETS scheme is a major effort to both stop the spread of rabies and other pet-borne illnesses while, at the same time, harmonizing the laws of member and participating countries to make travel less burdensome for the pet owner. It is a good example of the government taking an active role and actually making a situation better when all is said and done. Since we all know that we don't see that very often, PETS should be an easy scheme for all of us to get behind and support.