Taking your pets on holiday.
It is now easier to take your pets abroad than it has ever been.
The problem for British pet owners is not the taking away so much as the bringing back of their pets.
The United Kingdom is an island, which has never known a rabies outbreak, no mean feat for our intrepid customs officers.
Therefore the bringing back into the country of any pets that have been abroad is a very stringent and officious affair.
For pets to be allowed to travel they require a pet passport, pet insurance, valid pet health certificate, a rabies vaccination and the insertion of an international pet travel microchip ISO - 11784.
All this can be arranged by your own vetinary surgeon.
Upon arrival into a foreign country most pets will have to undergo a health check, at your expense.
If the pet is found to be ill or carrying an infectious disease, the pet will be kept in quarantine, also at your expense.
Upon arrival back into the U.K the pet will have to undergo another health check, again at your expense, and if found to be harbouring any infection from another country, will be kept in quarantine at your expense.
Most airlines have access to pet carriage, but you must also supply your pet with an appropriate travel cage or box.
The pet cage or box must also be well labelled, with your destination address.
You must also inform the airline of pet carriage, and pay their rates accordingly.
On long flights, don't forget to ask airline staff if access to your pet is allowed by yourself for meals and drinks, or if a member of staff is allocated to look after the pet.
For bespoke pet airline travel, visit this site - www.petairuk.com
For ferry and boat services, please get in touch with the relevant shipping company for their rates and carriage details.
There are no facilities for pets on Eurostar rail services at present.
Only one international cruise company allows pets on board their cruise liners. For information about taking your pet aboard ship, please get in touch with Cunard Line, by clicking on this link - www.cunard.co.uk
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