Britain to allow entry of U.S., Canadian dogs and cats

LONDON -- Dogs and cats from the United States and Canada will be allowed to enter Britain without enduring the dreaded six-month quarantine -- and just in time for Christmas travel.

The government announced Wednesday that from Dec. 11 its "pet passport" plan for vaccinated animals from Western Europe and some other countries will be extended to cats and dogs from the United States and Canada.

The strict quarantine, long-established to keep rabies out of Britain, was lifted in 2000 for pets from Western Europe that were tagged with an identifying microchip, vaccinated and blood tested before they traveled to Britain.

In 2001, the plan was extended to more countries. Now, after a scientific assessment concluded that there is little risk of importing rabies, the welcome mat has gone out for dogs and cats from Canada and the United States.

Extending the program will also help British residents who want to travel in the United States and do not want to leave their pooch behind in a kennel. Now pets won't have to go into quarantine on return from vacation.

Until discussions with airlines over proper certification is settled, U.S. and Canadian dogs and cats will have to be quarantined two to three days while the microchip and paperwork are checked.

The government also said microchips from the United States and Canada are different from European microchips, and this might create some difficulties.

Since February 2000, more than 75,000 dogs and cats from Europe and rabies-free islands have entered the country without quarantine, Morley said.

Explanatory leaflets for pet owners and U.S. and Canadian veterinarians are available on the Web site of the Department for the Environment.

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On the Net:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/