PETS Conversations

Help! Does anyone know how long the certificate is valid after the 6 months has passed?? I don't have a date yet for moving to England, but I want to get started on the process just in case. If I'm going to move in 8 months, say, can I get the cert. now or does it expire soon after the 6 months has passed?

Thanks

I believe it's valid for 90 days after the 6 months.  Check the DEFRA website to be sure. 

Darned if I could find it on there, but I'll try again. Thanks!

  The actual certificate is valid until your dog's rabies booster is due (ie. 2 or 3 years).  I thought you meant if there was a validity range for entry. 

If you're moving in 8 months, start on the PETS scheme now.  My vet wouldn't do the blood draw until 4 weeks after the rabies vaccine.  He also had to special order a second microchip from AVID and that took about 4 weeks to get.  We started on the process and then I found a friend to keep my dog until I could come over and get settled.  I'm hoping to bring him back after Christmas, if my landlord says ok. 

Yes, I did mean how long I had to enter the country once the 6 months passed.

The certicate is good until your animal's next rabies booster is due.  If you get the booster in time, then you can get a new certificate issued without another blood test or any wait.  If you miss that due date, then you have to do the blood draw and six month wait again.

Ok...we're wanting to take our 3 cats to the US. How would we go about doing that? Am worried about the flight and such. Our vet told us that they'd have to be microchipped beforehand which I'm fine with, but do they give them anything so that they're calm during the flight? Our 3 try to escape from their cages when we're taking them to the cattery! Any help you could offer would be great!

Any airline you fly your animals on will not allow them to be sedated.  The effect of altitude and the sedative can be lethal (just think about how alcohol can wreck havoc with humans at 35,000 ft).   Are you going from the US to the UK or the other way 'round?

Will be going from the UK to the US. East coast. And I kinda figured that they wouldn't have to be sedated, which I'm grateful for!! Am just worried about their nerves now thanks for the info.!

Yes, I did mean how long I had to enter the country once the 6 months passed.

Hi snupy, I've been researching this pretty heavily, and I'm 99% sure that the PETS certificate is valid for either a) when the vaccine expires, or b) 4 months, whichever comes first. Here's a quote from the certificate:

"The certificate is valid for intra-Community movements for a
period of four months from the date of issue or until the date
of expiry of the vaccination shown in part IV, whichever is
earlier."

But I believe it's also true that you can "renew" the certificate simply by updating the rabies vaccine.

Hope that helps!
-emma

Try putting a t-shirt that you've worn and not washed in their carriers.  That helps to calm them.  They'll probably sleep the entire flight as the cargo hold is dark.

I won't be able to bring my dog over after all.  The freeholder's agreement on my flat won't allow it.  My landlord said he didn't care but the rest of the building won't allow it.    I miss my baby...

First, I don't know if I spelled that right.

I have encountered a small problem.  I will not be able to finish the PETS requirements for my cat before I HAVE to leave.  Is there any way to start with the microchip and take Zoe (my lovely cat) over after only five months and have her in quarrantine for only a month (thus meeting the six month requirement?).  We would be cutting it that close.

Any advice anyone?  She would be unable to travel unaccompanied because she can't drive herself to an approved route departure point.

thanks in advance, trisha

I don't know the answer to this but I would contact DEFRA directly on this one (08459 33 55 77 or helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk). I've emailed them several times in the past month and they've sent prompt, helpful answers.

I remember reading on the DEFRA website that your cat will just have to finish the remaining time in quarantine. I have that as well. My two dogs will be ready when we are but my son decided after that he wanted to take his cat and he didnt want to rehome her. so she got started a month later and will have to serve about three weeks in quarantine.

yeah, i figured out that poor Zoe will have to spend half her time in jail.  I am worried about her but I am afraid I don't have many options.

Thanks for replying!