Daniel the Spaniel gets his Pet Passport

Daniel writes (interpreted by Deana Selby):

I’ve been told I’m going on holiday with my family, over the sea to a place called France.  I don’t know what ‘France’ is, but I’m told it’s pretty and my vet said that dogs are allowed into all the restaurants – I’m salivating already!


Owner took me to see my vet last night; he is very nice and has a calm voice, so I didn’t even notice when he stuck the needle in my side.  The owner says it was my rabies vaccination, and that because I’ve had this I’ll be able to go to France in three weeks’ time.  All I know is it hurt for half a second and then I got two biscuits from the nice vet man.  Result!


He also scanned my microchip, which gave a good bleep, and had a long chat with my human about buying me a special collar to wear before, during and after my holiday, to protect me from sandflies.  They sound ghastly, so I’d be happy to wear an extra collar if it means I won’t get bitten.


My human also bought me a worming tablet, and the vet gave me an all over check up, pronouncing me in tip top condition and fit to travel.  The humans had a chat about finding a vet in France, which owner must do more than 24 hours but less than 5 days before I come back to England.  It was something to do with tapeworm treatment.  I wasn’t terribly interested so had a tete a tete with the vet’s Cairn terriers, Betty and Zorg.  Humans do go on a bit.


Anyway, here is my new pet passport - do you like it?  I think I’m terribly handsome, and I believe any country would be honoured to let me through their borders.


I’ll let you know what happens on my holiday, the owner says we’ll be setting off in July.  I am learning to bark in French in the meantime. 

A bientot,

Daniel le Spaniel

Travelling with your dog and unsure what you need to do? Visit Defra's website for the latest information.

Case of charity worker bitten by rabid dog 'proves that quarantine laws work'

So says Defra today in response to the news that Kim Cooling of Animal SOS Sri Lanka was bitten by a rabies-infected puppy she rescued from the country and brought over here with four others.

Cooling says she feels 'well' and has received prompt treatment; Britain remains, thankfully, rabies-free as the incident was contained in Chingford quarantine kennels. The puppy died, her fellows were put down and the usual process of examining the bodies for traces of the disease is being conducted.

The quarantine laws are occasionally criticised by dog lovers who feel they are harsh, but cases like this do prove that they're in place for a reason.

Chris Laurence, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, had this to say:

"This incident shows how important our current controls are in preventing this dreadful disease entering the country. It also should increase our resolve to fight any proposals from the EU to dilute our safeguards."

It should also be noted that if you want to travel with a healthy family pet and return without having to go through quarantine, there is the Pet Passport scheme. Just remember that those laws are not there to penalise owners or cause unnecessarily long separation, but to protect people and other animals from a very painful, deadly illness.

It sounds like common sense, I know, but these subjects can sometimes provoke emotional responses.