New Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) regulations:

From 1st January 2012 the rules for bringing dogs and cats into the UK will change. All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel. Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait  before they enter the UK. Please call the clinic to discuss these changes if your pet does not yet have a passport and you are planning travel. (DEFRA guideline)

Import of dogs:

We would like to stress to anyone who is planning on importing an animal to the UK that the import must be carried out  according to AHVLA regulations. Using a pet export company can make the process much less burdensome. If a pet is imported without being declared to customs, along with the necessary completed paperwork, he/she is liable to either quarantine on entering the UK or immediate export to the country of origin.

Buying pets in the UK:

We see many more sick puppies and kittens bought through 'free-ads' services from newspapers or via places on the internet than come from registered breeders. Please encourage responsible pet breeding by only purchasing animals from establishments that are clean and well run, where the parents are obviously well looked after and where correct pre-purchase healthcare has been carried out by the breeders (ask our nursing team for advice on this matter). 'Saving' animals from shabby establishments only encourages them to continue breeding for profit. If you are concerned about a breeding establishment please contact the local RSPCA inspectors who will carry out an investigation.