Pet Passport

There's on thing you should know straight away about The Pet Travel Scheme, or, as it's commonly known, Pet Passports, and that's you should plan well ahead.

Basically, you can't bring your pet back to the U.K. within six calendar months of its rabies jab. So if you plan to take Fido with you out of the country on your annual hols, say in July, then you have to get it jabbed in January. And if you want to be doubly sure, then get it jabbed in November of the year before.

Right, more of the timing issues later. Let's get the official blurb out of the way first.

The system which allows you to take your pet out of the country and back again, is The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). But, another thing to note, when it says pet, it actually means a dog, cat, or ferret. Quite why a ferret is covered under the scheme, rather than your pet Orangutan (maybe its too big to get into the child seat), this writer isn't sure. Maybe it's because ferrets are particularly keen travellers, or maybe, more sensibly, a dog, cat, or ferret, has a greater chance of projection from the existing rabies vaccine. Anyway, suffice to say that your pet crocodile has to stay at home while you're enjoying the water park in Malaga.

The PETS scheme allows pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) to travel to other European Union (EU) countries and come back to the U.K. Some other non-European countries are included in the scheme as well, but for a full list, go to defra website which has all the information.

So, start early if you want to avoid disappointment.

Next thing to bear I mind, it's not cheap, because as with most Government initiatives, it basically creates wealth for everyone but you and in this case, a recognised vet. And oh yes, just in case you think you don't have to bother with such a thing as a pet passport and you think hiding Fido under a blanket in the car is a bit of a wheeze, you should bear in mind that's against the law and both you and your pet could be doing time (although not in the same place).

Smuggling a pet back into this country without it being inoculated, or doing it secretly, is about as heinous crime as you can commit in this country. The U.K is officially rabies free and if you change that situation, then you'll go down in history alongside Jack the Ripper.

And even if your pet has had the jab and is brought back earlier than the stipulated six months, you'll be fined personally and then you'll foot the bill - some hundreds of pounds a week - for your pooch to be incarcerated at her majesty's pleasure for the full six months. In short, don't do it.

Right, so you want to take your dog, cat, or ferret on a trip out of the U.K.

You have to book an appointment with a vet who will take you through the process. At the time of writing, the Pet Passport costs around £138 to administer. Expensive, but when it first came out it was around £200, so we can be grateful for small mercies.

Your vet will give your pet an examination and pass them fit for travel. Firstly, if your pet doesn't have an identity chip, it will be fitted with one. About the size of a grain, the chip is usually implanted behind the animal's neck and with a receiver, allows the user to identify the dog with it's unique number. Even if your dog is not going on his hols, this is a good idea anyway, as it allows your pet to be identified easily if it's lost.

Next, your pet gets the rabies jab. Then you have to wait 30 days before you take your pet back to the vets for a blood test. A blood sample is taken from the jugular (in the neck; not an easy thing for the vet to do, so maybe wait outside) and sent to the labs for testing. The result should be back to your vet in seven days (leave 14 days to be on the safe side, unless its Christmas, when the post usually goes awry and you might have to wait weeks). If the test is positive (i.e. there are enough rabies antibodies in your pet's bloodstream to protect them against rabies), the you will be issued a pet passport with all the details. This must be taken with you on all the trips - it's as important as your passport.

And remember, your animal can't come back to the U.K within exactly six calendar months. It can leave of course, once it has the passport, it simply can't return for those six months.

And although nearly all animals pass the blood test, it's not guaranteed and if it fails, it has to start over again, meaning another 37 days at least to see if it has enough antibodies. Some older animals might struggle, or ones that have been ill, so bear that in mind with your timings. But, it shouldn't cost you the whole £138 again, as the vet should just charge you the cost of the rabies jab (around £60 at the time of writing) and the test (around £30).

So, there you are. Is Fido worth £138, or possibly £198? Depends on you really. Mind you, how much does two weeks in a kennels cost these days?

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