Travelling With Pets
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Pets are often regarded as being a part of the family, and for many people, the thought of going on holiday and leaving them behind is abysmal. Bringing your pets with you on a trip however has become so much easier since the introduction of the PETS passport scheme, and all that is needed is a little bit of prior research.
If your pet already has a passport, then you are halfway there. Once you have decided on a likely destination, one of the first things that you will want to do is to research all the airlines. Some airlines have certain restrictions on pets, and others have less, so you will want to find out all information beforehand. All airlines will require that you notify them prior to the flight, and also to book the animal in. Some airlines will allow you to take your pet as hand luggage, and others will keep them in the cargo hold or cabin.
The pet travel scheme allows pets to enter the United Kingdom from certain countries without having to be quarantined. You will want to find out which countries this would apply to; as you may not want your pet all of a sudden taken away from you when you fly back home. To get a pet passport, your pet will have to be fitted with a microchip, as well as be vaccinated against rabies. Once your pet has had a blood test, you will need to wait for a period of six months to see whether the vaccine has worked before your pet will be issued with a passport. Therefore if you are planning a holiday with your pet, make sure that you start planning a few months ahead of time.