Liveaboard pets headed for the UK

[aluijten]

I'm considering to take my cats on my next trip to the UK. They will not be allowed (by me) to go ashore. Being pedegree cats I consider that too risky.
Do I still need to adhere to the (over the top) ruling for foreign pets in the UK?
In that case it would be a no-go for my dear little friends.
Is there some 'official' advice on this?

As always thanks a lot for your input.

Arno

 

[ChrisE]

I'm no authority but my instincts are to be a tad careful if you want your feline friends to return with you. I have seen a Belgium boat owner exercising their dog in a marina in Guernsey and there was a fair bit of tutting and general disapproval going on. Don't under-estimate the UK's capability for sticking to the rules quite rigorously on this one.

 

[STANLY]

Chapter & Verse is at Bringing pets to the UK

 

[Abigail]

Key issue, which is on the Defra site but a bit buried is that you may not bring in a pet to the UK from a private boat or plane. You must use an approved carrier - which is a commercial carrier, or your own car on a ferry/Chunnel.

Three things:
(i) we were boarded between Ramsgate and Harwich by HMCE, who were very friendly and polite but certainly took note of our two cats.
(ii) it is one of the things HMCE look out for when they patrol marina pontoons (which they do ...)
(iii) as someone says, people look out for it, and the general public takes a fairly dim view of animal smuggling into the UK.

So in our view, it is not worth the risk as the animals will be extensively tested and quarantined at your expense. This is keeping us in this country till next year as it is not worth the hassle and distress to our elderly cats for a few weeks.

You may think it is over the top, but them's the rules of the game as it's played in the UK.

HTH

 

[AngusMcDoon]

From DEFRA...

You must use one of the routes and transport companies on the enclosed EU route list to bring your pet into the UK under the Scheme from another EU country.

 

[l'escargot]

In principle, and historically, the fact that you do not intend to allow your pets ashore should exempt you from the regulations. However, proving that you do not intend to and that your cats are not able to get ashore themselves is nigh on impossible and you may well get into difficulties with the authorities. Personally I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Dipper]

I used to work for Defra but may now be slightly out of date with the current situation and I can’t check my ‘facts’ easily.

The legislation prohibits the LANDING of cats (and certain other rabies susceptible animals) without an import licence or valid PET passport. As has been mentioned, the PET passport scheme does not apply to animals on board private vessels – they have to be imported on approved carriers.

Many large, foreign vessels will be visiting UK ports with animals on board without any problems but they are required to securely confine animals below decks whilst the vessel is in port.

On a small boat this will be more difficult due to space limitations and could be open to interpretation. I would have thought that they would have to be caged and kept in a secure cabin and not allowed to wander around freely. In a worst case situation eg your cats are seen on deck, they may be considered to be an illegal import and you could be prosecuted and the cats destroyed. Alternatively, they could be quarantined until they are re-exported.

You should also check the import conditions of your own country to ensure you don’t have problems on your return.

I suggest you contact Defra for the latest advice.

 

[aluijten]

Thanks for all the remarks received,

I have actually put out a query to the 'Defra' to find out the 'official' statement. Hopefully it will not be an 'automated' reply or one that will arrive beyond the life expectancy of my cats (still good for quite some years I hope).

Thanks for putting me on the right track.

And I still believe the whole thing is way over the top. I could use the same safety arguments on people coming into the UK. Try to imagine being locked up at Heathrow for 6 months /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif