Travel to the UK with an Assistance Dog
What is a PETS-compliant service animal?
A service animal is PETS-compliant when the passenger can demonstrate that the animal meets the U.K.’s animal health requirements for entry into the U.K. (i.e., it has an embedded microchip ID, it has had a rabies vaccination, a rabies anti-bodies blood test at least 6 months prior to the animal’s entry into the U.K., and treatment against certain parasites), and possesses either a European Union (EU) pet passport or a third country official veterinary certificate documenting that these health requirements have been met. Under PETS, only dogs, cats and ferrets that meet these requirements may be transported into the U.K. from outside the EU without a 6-month quarantine upon arrival.
Aviation Enforcement Office - July 17, 2007
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/guidance.htm
WHO can I talk to if I have questions?
IAADP has been in touch with Liz Shickle, the Veterinary Officer at Heathrow Airport in London. She has invited anyone traveling to our conference to get in touch with her if you have questions. Her contact information is provided below. An excerpt from her letter, published in Partners Forum Vol. 4, No. 1, summarizes the order required if you are preparing a dog to travel to the UK.
Please may I remind you that the following sequence must be followed
1st - Microchip
2nd - Rabies vaccination
3rd - blood draw for testing at an approved Lab for rabies serology
If OK then eligible to travel 6 months later
4th - EU certificate issued by USDA Accredited vet and endorsed by USDA - APHIS
5th - Tick and Echinococcus tapeworm treatments done 24 - 48 hours prior to check in on approved route and recorded on the EU certificate.
Please ask all your members who wish to travel to the UK to get in touch with me so I may help them get everything right !!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
kind regards
Liz
Liz Shickle Veterinary Officer
Animal Health
Heathrow Border Inspection Post - Live Animal
P- + 44 (0) 208 759 7002 F- + 44 (0) 208 564 8939
Elizabeth.Shickle@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
IAADP Note for Travelers: Here is the url for an acceptable copy of the Veterinary Certificate for domestic dogs entering the European Community for non commercial movement, from the USDA website. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/ee_cn_fe-cert-english.pdf This is the document you need to prepare before your trip. Be aware it is only good for travel for four months. If filled out too early, it might lapse. Canadians and U.S. citizens can use this form
Liz Shickle said that because the EU certificate is spread over more than one page, the pages should be linked by having the certificate Serial number [assigned by the USDA-APHIS office in the USA] on each page as well as the USDA - APHIS endorsement ( embossed stamp ) on each page. The form should ONLY be completed by a USDA Accredited Vet, so find out if your vet is accredited by the USDA. Then you must send it to be endorsed by the USDA office in your state, above the sections for Tick and Echinococcus treatments.
If traveling from Canada or some other country, it is suggested you contact Liz Shickle for directions on who should prepare it in your country.
** Once endorsed, the EU Veterinary Certificate Form is valid for 4 months of travel in the UK and Europe.
*** Please check with Liz Shickle and/or the U.S. Department of Transportation website http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/guidance.htm for additional, explicit information on how to prepare an assistance dog for travel in the plane cabin if planning a trip to the UK from the USA. Check the official British website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/index.htm for details if you live outside the USA or to provide your veterinarian with detailed information on how to fill out all the paperwork. IAADP does not want you to rely solely on this webpage as it is not intended as a substitute for a comprehensive set of instructions available through government websites. It does, however, give a few helpful details you may not find elsewhere as a result of some questions we asked for a report published in our newsletter in the Fall 2007.