The Dog Mover

The Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) is designed to halt the spread of rabies and other diseases while still allowing pets to travel. The UK has been free of rabies for many years, but in some other countries there is still a risk of the disease to mammals. All rabies-susceptible animals entering the UK are required to spend six months in quarantine, unless they arrive under and comply with all the conditions of PETS. Countries participating in PETS include most parts of Europe and many non-European destinations. Check the current position, and the full procedure for preparing your pet, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

To be eligible, your cat, dog or ferret must:

• be fitted with a microchip
• be vaccinated against rabies
• wait 21 days from the date of their first rabies vaccination before travelling to another European Community country
• not have visited any non-approved countries or territories for at least six months before they enter or re-enter the UK

Cats and dogs must also:

• be blood tested with a satisfactory result by a European Union approved laboratory
• wait six calendar months from the date the satisfactory blood sample was taken before re-entering the UK

You must also ensure that your pet:

• is issued with a pet passport by their vet
• is treated by a vet for tapeworm and ticks, not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before checking in with a PETS-approved carrier for the journey back to the UK
• travels into the UK on a PETS-approved sea, air or rail route

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 Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports.

• Before your pet enters the UK, it must be treated against ticks and tapeworms

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.

The Pet Passport:

An example of the EU Pet Passport can be seen here.


NB: From 1st Jan 2012, the rules will change - there will be no need for a blood test or the 6 month wait or tick treatment:

Preparing your dog, cat or ferret

• Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
• Step 2 – 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. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date.The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the vaccination date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
• Step 3 – Get pet travel 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 Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports.
• Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – We expect the European Commission to shortly come forward with proposals to allow UK to still require pets to be treated against tapeworms.  There will be no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.
• Step 5 – 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.