Hi all,

Has anyone got or thought about getting a pet passport for their dog? I'm asking because I have been asked by a TV presenter friend to go around Europe with her, her husband and her dog and i'll be the dog sitter/walker. I have 2 dogs, would only want to take one of mine though (I haven't even mentioned any of this to my friend yet though!). I would take my pup and leave my setter with my boyfriend as she is a daddys girl anyway.

Does anyone have any experience of getting one and how long it takes, costs etc

Jo

Haven't got one in UK but these days all you need is one vaccination (kept updated) and the actual passport, so not much really... you'll need wormers to come back into UK but from Jan 1st as long as you stay in Europe you just need to wait 21 days after vaccination and tape worm treatment 1 -5 days before coming back in.  You can't fly (other than via cargo) into UK - so car or train.

The rules change from January 1st, making the process quicker and cheaper, so you're lucky! Your dog needs a microchip, then a rabies jab. The vet will then issue the passport (they might take a day or two to do the paperwork, and you're free to travel, but you can't re-enter the UK until 21 days after the vaccination. In all it shouldn't cost more than £100-£150.

Pet Passport rules

Jeangenie, my vet told my it would be about £200 per dog, and that was over a year ago. With three of them it rather put me off. My brother and his partner have just sorted the pet passport out for their dog to take him back from Germany to the US for Christmas and it cost in total EUR42. Why on earth isn't there a standard rate?

Your vet's price was right for a year ago;before now there has been a blood test required, which cost about £80, to add on top of the microchip, vaccine and paperwork costs. It's only from January 1st, when the need for blood testing is no longer required, that the cost has fallen.

> my vet told my it would be about £200 per dog, and that was over a year ago.

That was correct then, it cost me that for mine.

From January there is no longer the titre test to be done unless your going to a country that was not previously in the pet passport scheme, or the 6 month wait after the blood test to come back to UK.

So it will simply be chip, Rabies vaccination, travel 21 days later to any EU country or return to UK.  You must travel into UK on approved routes and can only fly in as Cargo.

Countries that would have previously have required Quarantine will now after January 1st, only need a titre test after Chip and Rabies vaccination, and then they can come into EU and UK after 3 months after blood test.

Thanks for all of your input guys, that has been really helpful. I have had a browse on internet regarding how old the puppy needs to be for rabies shot?
I think it is 3 months, which would be fine. Jaz is only 3 1/2 months and will be 6 months by the time of the trip so I am hoping it would work.

I have spoken to my friend now and asked her, so she is going to think through the logistics of having two dogs on the trip, keep your fingers crossed for me!

Yes, it's 3 months for the rabies vax. :-)

Make sure that you know exactly which countries you are going to be visiting and that they are part of the scheme. Have a great trip

Jeangenie, my vet told my it would be about £200 per dog, and that was over a year ago.

Expensive vet. I paid £120 roughly less than a year ago. Like everything, it's all down to what your vet charges -just like they may all pay the same price for vaccines and medicines yet charge totally different prices for them.

So it will simply be chip, Rabies vaccination, travel 21 days later to any EU country or return to UK.  You must travel into UK on approved routes and can only fly in as Cargo.

Just to add,it was announced the other day that the worming will still be necessary to get back to the UK, but no longer 24-48 hours, now it will be 1-5 days in advance, and the tick treatment has been skipped. Also for some reason worming isn't required for dogs coming from Finland or Malta.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/parasites/#travellingfrom1jan