British Quarantine Rules

2. England's Relaxed Quarantine Rules - the Pet Travel Scheme

Some cats and dogs may be spared the standard 6 month's quarantine under the Pet Travel Scheme. To qualify, a pet coming from European Union countries must have been fitted with a microchip tag, had its blood tested at an approved laboratory and been vaccinated against rabies. Animals coming from nations outside the EU that are certified as totally free of rabies will also be able to qualify. Australia is a leading example of such a country.

Several years ago , the scheme was extended to cover pets coming to England from the US and Canada. People coming to England from the USA and Canada are able to bring their vaccinated pets without having to put them into six months quarantine.

In the UK and Europe most microchips and scanners comply with ISO Standards. The USA and Canada have different microchips. Owners of animals identified with non-ISO microchips may experience some difficulties in demonstrating that their animal has been microchipped. Such owners are advised to provide their own scanner.

There are many restrictions about manner of travel, acceptable ports of entry and countries to which the Scheme applies. The Defra website has full details. Defra is the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Irish Department of Agriculture and Food has now made a decision that it will allow free movement of animals that have satisfied the English Pet Travel Rules from England. So, if you can produce documentation showing that your animal has passed the revised English pet standards, you can avoid quarantine for your animal.

Animals may now come into Ireland via ferry or air carrier. British Midland, Aerlingus, BA and possibly some other airlines provide this service. Check with them.

What are the British rules?

The Animal Health and Welfare Branch of the Department of Agriculture has placed the rules online at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm

You can also phone the English Pet Travel Scheme Help line at +44 20 7238 6951

Also note that the Pet Travel Scheme only applies to Cats and Dogs. Other pets travelling through the UK have a different set of rules and these, too, can be accessed at the link given above.

To date, hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats have entered England under the Scheme without the need for quarantine. The Scheme operates into England on over 50 sea, air and rail routes from around Europe and the rest of the world.

Experience of a Subscriber (Lori. Her dog is Max and he's HUGE!)

Here's some information I've discovered during the continuing saga of "getting a dog from the USA to Ireland". It has taken me a couple of hours to research all this, so maybe I'll save someone some time in the future!

Yes, the dog does have to fly into London to go through processing. I'm not sure how the rule changes coming up in July will change this. I do know that you no longer have to have a special seal affixed to the kennel.

He cannot be checked as excess luggage. He must go as cargo. For most airlines, I think, it doesn't really matter if he is accompanied or not -- it winds up being the same price since he is just cargo. Also, if you call the cargo phone numbers they tend to be very knowledgeable about this stuff, while the passenger phone numbers are pretty clueless -- nice, but clueless.

The airlines can only fly on certain routes; however, it generally isn't a problem to fly from your home airport as long as you route through certain airports on the way out -- which isn't a problem as I think the designated airports are generally their main hubs.

They cannot fly if the temperature is going to be more than 85 while they are waiting on the tarmac. This can generally be gotten around by flying early in the morning or late at night. I think the holds are temperature regulated, however they don't work as well when the planes are on the ground.

Here are a sample of prices at the moment (in US Dollars) for a large dog. It will vary based on exactly what airport you are flying from. Also note there are all kinds of security and pet transport fees on top of these

These are the approved airlines:
American Airlines: (800) 227-4622 $1,524.14
Continental Airlines: (800) 575-3335 $1,539
British Airways: (888) 578-4806 closed for the weekend
Virgin: (800) 828-6822 closed for the weekend
Northwest: (800) 692-2746 $750.75

United Airlines: no approved PETS routes

If you'd told me it was going to cost more for Max's ticket than mine, I would have been shocked -- I was thinking around a $200 fee. But after having the lady at American told me it was going to cost nearly $2,000 to ship Max, suddenly the $750 sounds like a deal.

Sheesh!

I think most airlines have a 100 pound weight limit for dog + kennel, above that maybe it is the next price range? Northwest's goes up to 150 pounds. Phew, b/c because Max is a skinny 90 pounds and I thought I was going to have to keep an eye on his weight.

Also, I think to fly from the UK/Europe to the USA, you don't have to go through all this. One airline told me that on the UK-USA route, you can just check your dog as excess baggage and pay a $110 fee. However, it is the whole PETS thing that forces him into cargo on the way to the UK.

Also, most of these cargo things won't let you book more than 30 days in advance.

Shipping Pets is a lot more complicated than it seems. You have to get International Health Certificates, Import permits etc. Once you enter the UK with your pet, they still have to go to a quarantine kennel and when they are checked out by the local vet they can be released early (this can take 2-3 days). This is not explained on the Defra site. My assumption was once they cleared customs you could collect your dog.

I would recommend using an agent or at least contacting an agent to help facilitate the move. There is a long check list of things you need to do.

I have been in touch with:

Carol Silhan
Animal Ark, Inc.
Pet Travel Worldwide
Pet Sitting
office 708-448-4275
fax 708-923-1258
PO Box 725
Palos Heights, Ill. 60463 USA

Maria's Warnings

Maria wrote: "The problem is that British Airways is not forthcoming with the info that is needed. There are a couple of sites that give you step-by-step instruction on what you need irishanimals.ie and Defra's Procedures for Owners page.

Get a print-out of the procedures and go over them, in person, with your vet. We handed the papers over trusting our vet to be thorough. A blood test must be taken and cleared 6 months before your arrival. Our vet did the test less than 3 months before we left. Our dog has to stay in quarentine until his test clears in October.

Continental Airlines now offers to fly pets. I don't know their procedure but I've been told it is far cheaper and user friendly. Double check all the paperwork before departing. (Scott's note: Continental has a very useful page on their Animal Policy. It can also be reached by mousing over the site's Travel Center button, Special Needs subsection.)

If your pet arrives in London in a crate they deem too small you will be fined £5,000 pounds sterling.

Good Luck!