The future for pet travel
Shedding light on what January 1st means for travelling with your four-legged friend
Currently pets can travel freely between the EU and UK, but once we leave the EU pets will be subject to further checks and processes at the borders. To avoid any unnecessary stress, we first and foremost urge owners to follow these steps:
Therefore, we recommend that pet owners tick off the following lists to ensure their pet can travel with them:
- Bringing pets into the UK
- Make sure that your pet is microchipped
- Ensure that you pet has a pet passport or third-country official veterinary certificate
- Make sure that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you’re travelling from an ‘unlisted country’
- Dogs must also usually have a tapeworm treatment
Be aware that your pet may be put into quarantine for up to four months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You are responsible for any fees or charges.
Travelling with pets to Europe
- Make sure you pet has a microchip
- Ensure your pet has had its rabies vaccination and boosters
- Get a valid pet passport for your pets
- Give your dog tapeworm treatment if you’re travelling to certain countries
Also check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
Please review the latest from the Government here.
Good news for campaign to end the illegal puppy trade?
One possible advantage on animal welfare for the UK leaving the EU could be the decline of the illegal puppy trade as it will be harder for individuals to bring over puppies without ensuring they have cleared all of the above checks. As many of you will know in April 2020 Lucy’s Law prohibiting the sale of puppies from third parties, so this combined with the extra checks on travel between Europe and the UK could hopefully finally end the illegal puppy trade.
It is also important to consider that a lot of UK pet food is sourced from the EU so FOUR PAWS as part of the UK-EU Animal Welfare Taskforce is urging the Government to plan for this and stockpile provisions for the nation’s pet owners. However, we are not urging individual pet owners to stockpile, it is important to think of the pet population as a whole and ensure that instead we apply pressure on the Government to plan accordingly.
