Travel with Pets - Moving pets from the US to the UK

Dear all,

Having consulted a few different agencies about this, I have been given conflicting advice, and so wondered if anyone could help please.

My other half is shortly moving from the US to the UK. She wants to bring her guinea pig and rabbit if at all possible.

Having asked a local (and apparently, sufficiently accredited) vet, we have been told the pets need to be chipped, and then certified as disease-free. The vet reckons this removes the need for any form of quarantine upon arrival in th UK. We;ve been quoted $37 for the 'chipping,' $37 for the vet'st ime and another $37 for the necessary paperwork.

However, having trawled the web (which I acknowledge isn't always the most reliable source of information), there is some suggestion that anything except cats/dogs must go through 6 months of quarantine regardless on arrival in the UK.

The other issue is transportation. Which airlines will do this? So far, I have tried Delta, and been told "no" unless it's a car or dog to be transported. Do other airlines carry pets? If so, any idea of the rough cost? Will they allow a multi-stage trip (other half lives in a fairly rural state, no airline hubs nearby) or is it a case of taking the pet to a hub?

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Having asked a local (and apparently, sufficiently accredited) vet, we have been told the pets need to be chipped, and then certified as disease-free. The vet reckons this removes the need for any form of quarantine upon arrival in th UK. We;ve been quoted $37 for the 'chipping,' $37 for the vet'st ime and another $37 for the necessary paperwork.
The chipping fee sounds reasonable - I paid $35 for each cat to be chipped. Of course, I pay an annual fee to keep their registrations current, too, but that might not be relevant if the animals are moving to the UK.

However my vet did the paperwork for my cat to go to another country, Canada in this case, for free. Possibly because I spend so much on vet bills (cat has chronic illness) it was done as a courtesy.

What I have read for cats going to the UK is that they must have a rabies shot, and then wait a period of time and then have a blood test to prove their immunity to rabies to be exempt from quarantine. Is that what you mean as certified disease free?

Here is the most recent pamphlet from the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA):

http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13582-bringing-pets-to-uk-120229.pdf

It does not appear to make any distinction between types of animals, calling them "pets." If your SO has questions, there's a telephone helpline listed in the pamphlet.

I don't know which airlines allow pets other than cats/dogs. I recommend checking with British Airways. Good luck.

Actually the title of the DEFRA website indicates those are the new rules for dogs, cats and ferrets. You really need to call them about the specifics for a rabbit and guinea pig.
Good luck!!

I'd check the DEFRA website as it looks like they may need quarantine.

Pet rabbits and rodents
Pet rabbits and rodents imported into the UK from any non-EU country, other than those listed above, must be licensed into quarantine for 4 months under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. However quarantine will not be required if the animal is a rodent or lagomorph which is licensed into a zoo or research premises for scientific research.

link is here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/other-animals/

I'd check the DEFRA website as it looks like they may need quarantine.

Pet rabbits and rodents
Pet rabbits and rodents imported into the UK from any non-EU country, other than those listed above, must be licensed into quarantine for 4 months under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. However quarantine will not be required if the animal is a rodent or lagomorph which is licensed into a zoo or research premises for scientific research.

link is here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/other-animals/

Having said that, the OP may want to have their SO make a stop in a less restrictive EU country (like the Netherlands or France) and then travel over land and/or sea to the UK to avoid the quarantine.