Animal welfare: Protecting
the Welfare of Pet Animals (Dogs & Cats) During Journeys: Advice for
Owners
Introduction
This guidance is intended to help owners travelling with their pets to care for and protect them during any journey to and from Great Britain. Although produced primarily for owners transporting pets (dogs and cats) to England under the ‘Pet Travel Scheme’ (PETS), the principles apply to the transport of any pet dog or cat on other journeys.Legislation
Whenever animals are transported, including journeys with pets, the law requires that:
"No person shall transport any animal in a way which causes or is likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering to that animal.”
If transport involves a commercial transaction between the transporter (e.g. ferry company, airline, railway company – a “carrier”) and the pet owner, there are further obligations that must be complied with by the carrier. Therefore, the carrier may specify, within its own terms and conditions of carriage of pet animals, detailed requirements that have to be complied with. On shorter ferry journeys and the Channel Tunnel Shuttle it is likely that your pet will have to stay within your vehicle. On longer voyages and for air travel a special container should be used.
Transporters may refuse shipment of pet animals in circumstances where
they are unable to provide suitable conditions for safeguarding animal
welfare throughout the journey. They may also refuse shipment if the animal
appears not to be fit to travel.
Plan the journey
You should plan and make preparations for travelling with your pet well in advance of starting the journey. Consider carefully the effect that prolonged confinement during the journey will have on your pet, in particular taking account of the nature and size of the animal, the length and type of journey.
If you cannot be certain that you can protect the welfare of your animal on the proposed journey you should consider alternative travel plans or ultimately do not transport your animal.
You should make sure that you know and understand the terms and conditions under which the carrier will transport your pet, and that, where necessary, you have made a booking or reservation for its travel. Animals transported under PETS must travel on an authorised route with an approved carrier
Tell the carrier in advance if the animal is a guide or assistance dog,
so that special arrangements may be made if necessary.
Fit to travel
Your animal should be healthy and fit for the intended journey. If necessary consult your veterinary surgeon for advice before commencing the journey. An animal should not normally be considered fit for transport if it:
- is ill or injured (except for insignificant illness or injury);
- is new-born with an unhealed navel (note that animals under about 10 months old are not eligible to enter England under PETS);
- is incapable of feeding itself and not accompanied by its mother;
- has given birth within 48 hours before starting the journey;
- is heavily pregnant and likely to give birth during the journey.
The use of sedatives is not recommended, particularly where air transport is involved, because the effect on the animal may be unpredictable.
- If used, sedatives should only be administered under veterinary guidance, and a certificate which states the drug, dosage, and date/time of administration should accompany your pet.
For all journeys
Before the journey
Your pet will travel better if it does not have a full stomach, so only a light meal about 2 hours before the journey starts is advisable. But water should be available at all times.
Your pet should be given the opportunity to urinate and defecate shortly before being confined for travel.
The vehicle, travel enclosure or container
The vehicle or travel enclosure and any container used should be of a suitable size for your pet, sufficient at least for it to stand, sit and lie down in a natural position, and to turn around easily. Carrying containers are often too small. A container used to transport an animal on a short journey to the vet may not be suitable or sufficiently large for use on a longer journey.
The enclosure or container should not contain anything which could injure the animal, and should be designed so that no part of the animal (e.g. head,paws or tail) can protrude or become trapped.
Adequate ventilation is essential throughout the journey. Remember that the travel enclosure and any container within it may be in ‘still air’ conditions for long periods of time.
A means of providing water, and feed when necessary, to your pet should be available if the journey is to last more than a few hours. The utensils for watering and feeding should be placed in or fixed to the container so that they cannot be knocked over or the contents spilt. On longer journeys they should be capable of being re-filled easily. Use of an anti-spill water bowl is strongly recommended.
Appropriate and absorbent bedding should be provided, and this may need to be changed during a very long journey. Newspaper is ineffective and should not be used.
Introducing your pet to its travel enclosure or its container before
travelling should help reduce the stress of transport. A familiar object
(e.g. toy or cloth) may assist the animal to settle into strange surroundings.
During the journey
The vehicle, travel enclosure and any container used should be adequately ventilated at all times. Heat and moisture can quickly build up inside unless there is a good airflow through it.
Animals should never be left in vehicles in direct strong sunshine and/or high temperatures as it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation to keep them cool. Unless animals are fully acclimatised, overheating, distress and suffering is likely when the temperature exceeds 25 degrees celciusfor more than a few minutes. The temperature in a car in full sun on a hot day can rise to double that outside of the vehicle in a short time, leading rapidly to distress for any animal in the vehicle.
You should make sure that your pet is securely confined within the vehicle, travel enclosure or container. It is advisable for the access door to be kept locked.
You should check, shortly after the start of the journey, that your pet has settled down; and check that all is well whenever the opportunity arises during the journey.
Your pet must have clean fresh water available at all times and the normal feeding regime should be followed, but over-feeding should be avoided. In no circumstances should the animal be without water for more than 12 hours, or without food for more than 24 hours.
Heat stroke (Dogs)
Dogs differ crucially in their ability to cope with heat. They lose heat mainly by panting and, unlike people, do not sweat profusely. Dogs with snub noses (e.g. Pekinese) or dogs with breathing problems are much more prone to heat stress. Long haired dogs are more susceptible than those with short hair.
How can you recognise overheating and its severity?
First signs are often increased panting and increased activity with barking or whining. Dogs will look obviously agitated.
Then excessive salivation can occur, often with drooling and with strands of saliva hanging from the mouth.
Extreme panting and dark coloured gums will follow. Glassy eyes and stupor may be seen.
Once body temperature is raised to the point that cell death occurs then seizures, coma and death follow.
The key to successful recovery from overheating is early detection and prompt treatment. Remove the animal to a cool shaded place, provide water to drink and spray the animal with cool water (cooling may also be achieved by blowing cool air from a fan). Seek immediate veterinary advice if there is not a prompt response to cooling.
Documents
Animals imported into quarantine must have an import licence to enter
the UK. Further information can be obtained by calling the Defra Quarantine
Section on
+44 (0)20 7904 6214.
Animals brought into the UK from outside the European Community must also meet Customs requirements. Pet owners are advised to seek advice from the agent, travel company or airline involved in transporting their pet.
Ensure that any documents needed are current and valid. To avoid delays at check-in points and control posts you should ensure that you have all the required documentation (including PETS documents if appropriate) with you and readily available.
Travel by CAR or other road vehicle (additional advice)
Your pet should preferably be confined in a container which meets the standards set out above. This should be placed where it is secure and cannot move under acceleration, breaking and cornering, is easily accessible, and where it is not exposed to strong sunlight or cold drafts.
A cat or very small dog should always be confined in a container.
Where a dog is carried loose in a vehicle it should not be able to escape through any window which will need to be left open for ventilation. The use of ‘window guards’ is suggested. When carried in the luggage compartment of an estate car or hatchback a secure dog-guard should be fitted, and the floor should have a non-slip surface.
Adequate ventilation at all times is essential
- both when the vehicle is moving, but more so when it is stationary – particularly in hot or sunny conditions.- Animals should never be left in vehicles in direct strong sunshine and/or high temperatures as it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation to keep them cool
- Air-flow through the vehicle will be severely restricted when it is confined within an enclosed space during ferry crossings or whilst on the Channel Tunnel Shuttle train unless windows are left sufficiently open.
You should carry a supply of water, and of food if necessary, and a means
of giving these to your animal.
Travel by FERRY (additional advice)
If travelling on one of the longer ferry routes you should arrive at the port early so that your vehicle can be positioned in the best place in the car deck for the welfare of your pet. In hot weather, travelling overnight is recommended if possible when conditions may be cooler and there is less risk of overheating.
Make sure that the ferry company officials responsible for loading know
that your vehicle contains a live animal, and follow their instructions.
For safety reasons on short ferry routes access to the vehicle decks whilst
at sea is not normally permitted, but can be arranged when essential for
travellers with animals in their vehicles. Your carrier should advise
you of its policy about access. Therefore, before leaving your vehicle
you must ensure that your pet will have enough ventilation, and this will
normally mean that one or more of the vehicle windows need to be left
partly open; but it is also important to ensure that the animal cannot
escape. You should also ensure that your pet is comfortable and has water
available at all times.
Animals should never be left in vehicles in direct strong sunshine and/or
high temperatures as it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation
to keep them cool. The interior of a vehicle stowed in strong sunlight
on an open deck, or in an enclosed deck where the ambient temperature
is likely to exceed 25ºC for more than a few minutes, will very quickly
become overheated, with consequent distress and suffering to the animal
inside.
Access to the animal should not normally be necessary on shorter ferry crossings (e.g. those of less than 2 hours). But in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances access may be requested - usually at the Information Desk.
On longer ferry crossings (e.g. those of 2 hours or more) you should
make arrangements - usually at the Information Desk - for permission to
visit your pet at suitable intervals in order to check its well-being;
and, where appropriate, to provide it with additional water and food and
an opportunity to exercise, urinate and defecate.
On very long ferry crossings (e.g. those of 24 hours or more) or long voyages on other vessels it is likely that the carrier will require your pet to be transferred from your vehicle into a container placed in a special area of the vessel. The carrier should advise you of its policy (including who is to supply the container), and the procedure for access and tending the animal during the voyage.
A pet animal accompanying a foot passenger may be required, by the carrier, to be confined within a container prior to embarkation and during the voyage. The carrier should advise you of its policy and procedure for access during the voyage.
Travel by RAIL - Channel Tunnel Shuttle (additional advice)
Remember that the interior of your vehicle will quickly become overheated if it is left parked in hot or sunny weather whilst waiting to board the Shuttle train. Make sure that sufficient windows are open for ventilation during this time.
- Animals should never be left in vehicles in direct strong sunshine and/or high temperatures, as it is difficult to ensure sufficient ventilation.
Your pet will remain with you during transit on the Shuttle, and you should keep it confined within your vehicle.
- A cat or very small dog should, in addition, be kept confined within a container.
Travel by AIR (additional advice)
Transport of animals by air must by law be in accordance with the IATA Live Animals Regulations2 . These contain specific and detailed requirements for the design, ventilation, size, and fittings of containers for dogs and cats, and include provision of watering and feeding arrangements. The special circumstances of transport by air, including the effects of altitude on animals, require more stringent rules and precautions than other means of transport.
At the time of booking your air travel make sure that the airline knows you have a pet to accompany you and ask for their advice, particularly about the size and design of container to use, and which categories of pets can be shipped. The web-site www.iata.org/cargooperations/liveanimals/pets.htm also gives some advice.
You should be aware that the Live Animals Regulations prohibit air transport of puppies and kittens under 8 weeks of age; also female animals with suckling young. There are special recommendations about snub-nosed dogs. Some airlines have additional restrictions or prohibitions with respect to young animals and snub-nosed dogs.
The airline should check that the container is appropriate for the animal and that it meets the IATA specification before accepting it for shipment.
Access to pet animals is not normally possible during the flight.
Every pet animal travelling to Great Britain by air must be carried in
accordance with the provisions of its animal health documentation and/or
import licence. In most cases this will require your animal to be transported
in the aircraft hold as manifest freight.
Further Advice
Welfare requirements
3
Defra
Animal Welfare Division, Branch B
1A Page Street
London
SW1 4PQTelephone +44 (0)20 7904 6577Fax +44 (0)20 7904 6961
In Scotland
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
Animal Health and Welfare Branch
Pentland House
47, Robbs Loan
Edinburgh
EH14 1TYTel 0131 244 6181 Fax 0131 244 6616
In Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government
Agriculture Policy Division
Cathays Park
Cardiff
Tel 02920 823592 Fax 02920 823352
Pet Travel Scheme
Defra
PETS Helpline on: +44 (0) 870 241 1710
(Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm)
or visit the PETS website
_________________________________________________________________
Footnotes:
1Article 4(1) of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. This Order implements Council Directive 91/628 EEC (as amended) on the protection of animals during transport. Full guidance on the Order is available on the Defra website or on request to the addresses at the end of this note.
2Standards set by the International Air Transport Association.
3See also the legislative provisions contained in the Welfare of Animals(Transport) Order 1997 and guidance on the Defra website.
Page last modified:
August 15, 2008
Page published: 5 February 2003