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Pets: Vaccination

Volume 494: debated on Monday 15 June 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department’s policy is on the vaccination of animals kept as pets. (278267)

Under the Pet Travel Scheme, pets (principally dogs and cats) from certain ‘listed countries’ can enter the UK without spending time in quarantine if they have been identified using a microchip, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested to ensure that the vaccination has been effective. Pets from ‘listed countries’ can enter and move freely within the UK six months after a successful blood test, as long as they meet certain other tick and tapeworm-treatment requirements.

Similarly, UK pets can travel to member states of the EU and return to the UK provided they have received appropriate rabies vaccination and have met the other requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme.

There are no other statutory requirements for owners to vaccinate their pets in the UK. However, under the Animal Welfare Act, all pet owners have a responsibility in relation to the health of their pets and we endorse the recommendations of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) for an appropriate vaccination programme to protect pets in the UK from a range of diseases. We strongly encourage anyone responsible for a pet to discuss their pet’s necessary vaccinations and other health needs with their veterinary surgeon.

A BVA guide, “Best of Care”, is available free of charge for people looking to take on the responsibility of pet ownership. This guide can be downloaded on the BVA website.