Traveling with your pet : Pet Passport
Pet Passport : Preparing Your Pet
The Pet Travel
Scheme (PETS) applies to all cats and dogs. It allows them to enter or re-enter
the UK from approved countries without quarantine as long as they meet certain
criteria.
Step 1. Microchipping
Fitting a microchip. You can
have a microchip fitted at any time but it must be done before your pet is
vaccinated against rabies and blood tested.
You can now arrange to have
your pet vaccinated against rabies.
Your vet should record the
microchip number on your pet's vaccination record at the time of vaccination.
The microchip number and date of microchipping will be recorded in the EU Pet
Passport.
If your pet was vaccinated
against rabies before it was microchipped, it will need to be vaccinated again.
Step 3. Blood Testing
Arranging
a Blood Test
After your pet has been vaccinated, it will need a blood test to make sure that
the vaccine has given your pet sufficient protection against rabies. The vet
will take a sample of your pet's blood and send it to an approved laboratory for
testing. Remember to take your pet's vaccination record card with you when the
blood sample is taken.
When to Blood Test
Your vet will advise you on the best time to get your pet blood-tested. Make
sure that your vet records the date on which the blood sample was taken.
Failed Blood Test
If your pet fails the blood test it will have to be revaccinated and blood
tested again. No further blood tests are required after the first test which
gives a successful result provided the pet is subsequently revaccinated within
the intervals specified by the vaccine manufacturer. If there is a break in the
specified vaccination programme, a further blood test will be required after
revaccination, and a further period of six months must elapse before the pet can
re-enter the UK.
Step 4. Certification
The EU Pet Passport
To bring your pet back into the UK you will need an EU Pet Passport. This will
be issued to you by a Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) or by a Government
approved source in one of the qualifying countries.The transport company staff
who check your pet will need to see the passport, so make sure it is kept safe.
Before issuing a a passport in the UK the LVI will need to examine the pet and
check that it:
can be identified by its
microchip number.
* has a current vaccination against rabies given after the microchip was
implanted.
* had a blood test showing that the rabies vaccine has given satisfactory
protection against
..rabies.
* shows no clinical signs of rabies
If your pet does not meet these requirements,a passport will not be issued.
Most small animal veterinary practices in the UK have a resident LVI. If your
own vet is not an LVI, they may be able to tell you where the nearest one works.
The
Passport:
* may be issued at any time after
the above requirements have been met .
* will be valid for the duration of the most recent vaccination.
* will expire if your pet
does not receive a booster rabies vaccination prior to the expiry of the..last vaccination.
Validity of a Pet Passport
A Pet Passport
will not become valid for entry into the UK until six months have passed from
the date the blood samples was taken which gave a successful test result. If the
passport is issued after the six months period has passed, it will be valid for
entry into the UK immediately. The passport will remain valid up to the date
that the pet's booster vaccination is due. This is shown on pages 4 & 5 of the
passport as the 'valid until' date.
Your pet must be microchipped before it is vaccinated and blood tested.
All vets who are LVI's (Local Veterinary Inspectors) can carry out these
procedures. They will make a charge for doing so.
Once your pet has
been microchipped, vaccinated and blood tested, you will be given an EU Passport
by your vet which will verify that these procedures have been carried out.