Pets in Spain
As pets can now enter Europe without the need for quarantine, more and more of us are bringing our furry friends with us to Spain - or indeed back in to the UK. However, there is more to it than putting them on a plane or in the boot of the car, so what exactly do you have to do to travel with your pet?
Pet Travel Scheme
Since the abolition of quarantine between EU member countries, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or Defra for short, has introduced pet passports so you can travel with your faithful companions. The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets to travel between the UK and certain other countries and territories without the need for quarantine. The list of included countries can be found on www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/territory.htm, Spain of course, is one of them. Animals from unlisted countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival in the UK.
What Do You Need To Do?
Pet dogs and cats (including guide and hearing dogs) that are resident in either the United Kingdom or one of the other qualifying (listed) countries can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the Scheme.

It is important to remember that even assistance dogs entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme must meet all of the rules of the Scheme – ring the PETS Helpline on 0870 241 1710 for further information.

Animals which do not meet all the requirements will have to be quarantined for the routine six month period. However, you might be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS requirements.

To bring your dog or cat into the UK under PETS from one of the listed countries you must have it fi rst microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested. There are no exceptions to this order of preparation apart from the exemption that comes with having a pet that is already resident in certain countries where these procedures may be done in a different order.
Where PETS Procedures Can Be Carried Out
Your pet can be fi tted with a microchip in any country. The rabies vaccination (including boosters), blood sampling, issuing the PETS documentation and the tick and tapeworm treatment must all be carried out in the UK or any of the other qualifying countries (see below). Your registered vet will be able to explain the process to you in detail and guide your through.
The Six Month Rule For Entry or Re-entry In To The UK
Your dog or cat may not enter the UK under PETS until six calendar months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood sample which led to a satisfactory test result (see below). Once the vet has issued the PETS documentation and that six month period has passed, the PETS documentation is valid for your pet to enter the UK.

This is important as it means that you have to start the proceedings at least six months before you intend to travel if you want to avoid quarantine.
The Procedures
  • Have your pet microchipped

    • Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fi tted with a microchip so that it can be properly identifi ed. If you haven’t done this already, it is a painless procedure whereby a small electronic chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted in to the scruff of the neck and the animal is then registered to you. If your pet goes missing, they can be scanned, your contact details are retrieved and you can be swiftly reunited.

  • Have your pet vaccinated

    • After the microchip has been fi tted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. Make sure that your vet reads its microchip number and enters it on the vaccination record card.

    There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has been vaccinated against rabies before it was identified by a microchip, it will have to be vaccinated again. This is to make sure that your pet is correctly identifi ed when it is vaccinated.

  • Arrange a blood test

    • After your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies. This can be done before you leave the UK or while you are in another qualifying country but for entering the UK the 6 month rule will apply. For example, if the blood sample was taken on 1 January, the earliest your pet would be able to enter the UK is 1 July.

    Your vet will take a sample of your pet’s blood and send it to an EU-approved laboratory for testing. Remember to take your pet’s vaccination record with you when the blood sample is taken and ensure that the vet records the microchip number accurately and clearly on the submission form, together with the date the blood sample was taken.

  • Get PETS documentation (Pet Passport)

    • Providing that your pet’s blood sample for rabies comes back satisfactory, you will receive your EU Pet Passport. It is issued by Defra, but will be given to you by your Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI). If your veterinary practice does not have an LVI, they will certainly be able to advise you of where you will have to go. When it is time to collect your Pet Passport, you must take your pet with you as well as its vaccination record and blood test result (if you have been issued with it) and evidence of your pets microchip. The passport will be completed by the LVI for you to take away with you. And yes, there is space for a photo of your pet if you choose to include one!
    Additional Requirements
    If you are bringing your pet in to the UK, it must be treated against ticks and tapeworm not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it reaches the check in point (ie check in at the airport if fl ying or customs at the boarder, for example Calais, if driving).

    When you arrive at the check-in point, if less than 24 hours has passed since the treatment, you will have to wait until the full 24 hours have passed before you can check in with your pet. If the treatment was done more than 48 hours before you check in, you will have to have your pet treated again, have the treatment recorded in the relevant document or get another official certificate, and wait at least 24 hours before checking in. You cannot administer the treatment yourself, it has to be done by a vet and recorded.

    Pets being taken abroad from the UK on day trips will need to have the treatment carried out in the UK not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before they are checked in for the return journey.

    You are strongly advised to contact your vet in advance to make sure that they are able to issue the certificate, rather than assuming that the treatment can be given and the certificate issued with no prior warning.
    Why Pets Have To Be Treated
    The tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) can cause a serious and sometimes fatal liver disease in humans, and the tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) can carry diseases that are harmful to humans. Neither of these parasites are thought to be currently present in the UK. The treatment needs to be given not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before the pet is checked in to travel to the UK to ensure that the tapeworm eggs are not shed in the UK.

    You are strongly advised to contact your vet in advance to make sure that they are able to issue the certificate, rather than assuming that the treatment can be given and the certificate issued with no prior warning.
    Arriving in Spain
    You should be aware that if you take your pet out of the UK, it may be exposed to diseases which we do not have in the UK, e.g. diseases transmitted by the bite of ticks and parasites such as heartworm and tapeworm. It will have no natural immunity to such diseases and may therefore be more likely to succumb to them. Some of these diseases can also affect humans.

    Before you leave the UK, why not consult your vet for advice on preventative treatments and any other precautions you can take to make the transition easier on your pet and importantly, how to look for signs of ill health in your pet.