Travelling to different countries can be complicated sometimes, but this is made even more difficult if you want to bring your beloved pet with you on your adventures.
Whilst a pet microchip tracker is able to store information about your pet, its owner and any health details on a UK-based database, the complication can magnify when trying to travel abroad, and in the past, the only solution was to quarantine the animal for up to six months.
That changed with the introduction of the pet passport, initially known as the PETS scheme, in 2001. This allowed for animals to travel around continental Europe and in and out of the UK without the need for the months of quarantine that were sometimes necessary.
A pet passport details a pet’s treatment history, vaccination, microchip information and provides certification and confirmation for the other country to know that an animal is safe to travel to another country.
What Information Is Required?
Information can differ depending on the country your pet is travelling to, but at a minimum, the following needs to be included on a pet passport:
- Microchip information, including proof it meets International Society of Pharmacovigilance specifications,
- Rabies vaccination certification, as well as proof of rabies antibodies, which takes the form of a blood test.
- Proof of treatment for tapeworm, ticks and fleas,
- Letter or certification from a vet confirming no signs of disease and that the animal is fit to travel.
- Certification from the government that confirms the vet’s findings.
These papers are checked thoroughly on departure and arrival at the airport before either the pet or its owner are allowed to enter the country.
