If moving abroad can seem a daunting prospect for yourself, it can also be a potentially difficult time for your pet. The first thing you must do, however, is make sure that all the paperwork is in order in regards to your pet and this depends on where you're moving to, from the UK. If you are moving from the UK to the EU, for example, then is necessary to have a pet passport. This should be fairly straightforward and it involves your pet being micro-chipped and having a rabies vaccination at least thirty days before you leave for the continent. Your pet passport is official documentation which confirms your pet has indeed been micro-chipped and has had a rabies vaccination. The pet passport will also contain registration details about yourself/its owner.
There may be slight variations in each of the different EU countries in regards to how a pet passport is used but it's seen in general as compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets. For instance, in the UK the pet passport is not compulsory for dogs solely resident in the UK who are not travelling abroad but the pet passport, in Belgium, is used as official documentation for the pet whether it's travelling abroad or not. In regards to the UK, the main issue concerning pets is to do with rabies. Since the UK, relative to some other EU countries, is free from this disease, it's more stringent getting your pet back into the country and this is why you need your documentation to be in order if you were planning to come back to the UK with your pet for a holiday sometime in the future.
Also, if you were coming back with your dog, it needs to have proof that it has had tapeworm treatment one to five days before its entry back to the UK.
A dog must be at least three months old in order to apply for a pet passport. The passport will only be issued after your dog, or any other pet, has had its rabies vaccination. There is a three week period which must be passed from the time of the vaccination to the time your pet can be issued with its passport. In addition, how long the passport lasts also revolves around the rabies vaccination. Since your animal may need a rabies vaccination around every 2 to 3 years this means, in effect, your pet passport lasts for this time and that your pet passport needs to be updated every time a vaccination is given.
As the UK has its own individual requirements regarding pet passports then if you're moving abroad permanently to either Europe, the USA, Australia or anywhere else, each place has its own regulations regarding pets which you need to know about. You also have to make transport arrangements which your removal company may be able to help you with. You can also contact certain airlines, ferries and train companies as well as look online for additional information. You also need to plan ahead as soon as you know you're moving abroad in regards to how it may affect your pet physically or emotionally. That you can try to make the move itself as least stressful as it can possibly be for the animal.
In all likelihood, your dog, cat or any other pets you have will settle into their new surroundings even quicker than you do yourself. By always being aware, however, that moving home to a new country can have an effect on an animal, it can help the well-being of your pet. By getting all the paperwork out of the way first of all and all the official documentation you need then you can concentrate on other ways to make your move abroad an easier move for your pet.
