Traveling Overseas with Your Pet
Whenever you pass over the boundaries from one country to another, you run into one form or another of customs issues. With pets, this is never more so the case. You pet is a lovable and vital family member to you. To customs officials, it is a potential disease spreader, a veritable ship of the plague if you believe what they say. Since custom officials have the power at a border, this means you pet can end up in quarantine. Quarantine is, of course, a big problem as you probably didn't plan to sit at the border for a week or two.
Given the globalization going on, an effort has been made to deal with the pet quarantine issue. Ironically, it was started in the United Kingdom. The UK, of course, is one of the hardest places to travel with a pet as the country has brutal rabies prevention policies that can result in your pet being put in quarantine for up to six MONTHS. Talk about ruining your trip!
The program is called PETS. It is essentially a system that creates a pet passport. The passport contains all relevant health information for your pet. Most pertinent is the fact your pet has been treated for rabies by an approved veterinarian. The information is encoded in the passport in a microchip in most cases, so customs officials can read it and let you through customs. To make sure it is the right pet, a microchip is usually also required to be inserted under the skin of your pet.
In 2001, the European Union enacted the program. It allowed people to transfer their pets from country to country via approved transport and not have to deal with the customs problems that typically occurred. Since its passing, the program has been expanded to include the US.
While PETS seems like a perfect answer to pet custom issues, you have to keep in mind this is a government program. In short, it is a bit of a mess. First, you need to contact your Secretary of State to see if your country and the destination country participate. Second, you need to find out what type of documentation you need for both countries. Nope, it isn't standardized. Third, you need to find out if anything is required at either location besides rabies vaccinations. Typically, more is required, but it depends on what the government in question is trying to prevent at that time.
Related Tags: pets, travel, uk, europe, overseas, traveling, passport, rabies, united kindom, quarantine
Hal Storm is with Petstoreyeti.com - free pet information and articles.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The Time I Had a Pet Blue Wasp
A lot of people have pets such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, turtles and some even have snakes and - Why Should You Buy Barking Collars For Dogs?
You love your dog but he always barks and misbehaves. It is very upsetting for owners to have dogs t - What to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
There may be plenty of occasions in your life when a puppy crosses your path and desperately needs a - What Do Pet Insurance Policies Cover?
The most basic pet insurance policies simply cover vet bills. More advanced policies can cover every - Dog Walkers Are They For You
If you own a dog then you will know how important it is to ensure that it is walked often to keep th - Creating the Right First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Most of us have some type of first aid kit in our homes. They are necessary for those small bumps an - Deciding to Crate Your Dog For Training
There are several different ways that you may decide to use to train your new dog and they are all v - What to Know About Diets For Dogs
Weight seems to be a struggle for just about anyone, and that is true in the world of dogs. In fact, - Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember
Training your dog is important. It's important for his safety, your safety, the safety of your prope - Don't Go Raising Sheep For Wool Without Reading This!
There are many possible reasons why people choose to raise sheep. Some do it as a means of livelihoo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Puppy And Dog Information
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and havin - How To Choose The Right Dog Trainer
Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and - Can Greenies Dog Treats Recover From Death?
A Makeover For Greenies(r) Treats Months after a series of lawsuits and media attention alleged the - Dog Treats - How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items - How to Choose A Good Dog Trainer
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the - Dog Breeds and Asthma Sufferers: Are Hypoallergenic Breeds Always Best?
The first important consideration is to understand exactly what hypoallergenic dog breeds are. In sh - Audubon Bird Feeders
Bird watching is an enjoyable hobby for many of us. We love the antics of the different birds as - Must Have Accessories For Your Fish Tank
When many individuals think of fish tank accessories, decorations are often the first thing that com - The Beautifull Hummingbirds
The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy and for their protein source small insec - Clumber Spaniel Puppy And Dog Information
The Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent, calm dog great for apartments as they do not need a great dea
