Essential Information for Animals in the UK

Share | Print | +

Buzz

Delicious

Digg

Facebook

Google

Propeller

reddit

StumbleUpon

Twitter

Yahoo!

Essential Information for Animals in the UK

The British are traditionally known as a nation of animal-lovers, with dogs topping the list as most popular pet, closely followed by cats. Other domestic pets include rabbits, indoor birds, hamsters, ponies and horses, snakes, gerbils, tortoises and rats.

Below is information on:

Veterinarians

There are a great many veterinary practices throughout the UK. Their regulatory body is the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) which ensures that standards within the veterinary profession are maintained. They have an online Find A Vet search engine which enables the user to search for RCVS accredited practices or recognised specialists.

• RCVS website

Emergency vet services

Many practices maintain a 24 hour call-out service in case of emergencies. In addition, Vets Now provides Out Of Hours (OOH) emergency veterinary care, with a searchable database of participating clinics.

• Vets Now website

Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats 

Dogs may be vaccinated against distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and kennel cough, all of which are endemic in the UK. For travelling abroad under the PETS scheme, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies, which is not endemic in the UK.

Cats may be vaccinated against feline infectious enteritis or panleucopenia, feline leukaemia, Chlamydia and cat flu, all of which are endemic in the UK, and against rabies when travelling abroad under the PETS scheme.

The first vaccination course for both dogs and cats consists of two or more vaccinations, administered when puppies are 6-8 weeks old, and kittens 9-10 weeks old. The first vaccination is a lower strength version of the full vaccination, and is used to prepare the pet's immune system for the second vaccine two weeks later. The second vaccination raises the pet's immune system to the correct level of protection.

Boosters are recommended on an annual basis and vets provide a certificate confirming the vaccination, and highlight when the next one is due. Many boarding kennels, training classes and catteries only accept pets which have this certificate.

Identification and Registration of Pets

There is currently no national mandatory dog licence scheme in Great Britain. However, under the Control of Dogs Act 1992, every dog must wear a collar with its owner's details inscribed on the collar when a dog is in a public place. Failure to do so can result in prosecution and a fine. Microchips and tattoos are not legally required, but are becoming increasingly popular as a means of safeguarding against missing pets.

The Dangerous Dogs Act

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 it is illegal to breed, sell or exchange fighting dogs such as Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Filo Brazilieros. These dogs must be registered, neutered, microchipped, tattooed and insured, as well as being muzzled and kept on leads when in public places.

The law also states that, regardless of the breed, if a dog is dangerously out of control in a public place, the owner, or person temporarily in charge, is guilty of an offence. The definition of being dangerously out of control is if the dog injures a person, or there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will do so.

• To read the Dangerous Dogs Act on the National Archives: Click here

Dog Control Orders

Dog Control Orders (DCOs) form a part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act of 2005, and may be enforced by local councils and result in a fine. The offences are: failing to remove dog faeces, not keeping a dog on a lead, permitting a dog to enter land from which dogs are excluded and taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land.

Buying a Pet

There are no special laws that apply to a contract when buying or selling a pet. When buying a pedigree dog, it is advisable to go through a Kennel Club accredited breeder, rather than through a pet shop.

• The Kennel Club website

The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is the regulatory body for breeders of pedigree cats.

• GCCF website

Animal Organisations

There are a great many animal organisations operating in the UK. The main ones are:

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA): The RSPCA is the UK's oldest and best-known animal welfare organisation, which has been operating since 1824. Their primary work is the rescue and re-homing of cats, dogs and other domestic pets, but they respond to all animals in need, including wildlife, farm animals and laboratory animals. They also campaign for the welfare of animals to be protected by law, run educational programmes to prevent cruelty, and work with other animal welfare organisations throughout the world.

• RSPCA website

The Blue Cross: It aims to meet the welfare needs of companion animals through treatment, advice, support and re-homing.

• The Blue Cross website

Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League): The UK's largest dog welfare charity. It manages a network of re-homing centres, subsidised neutering campaigns, educational programmes and offers veterinary care for the pets of homeless people.

• Dogs Trust website

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA): The PDSA is the UK's leading veterinary charity, providing free veterinary services to sick or injured pets while promoting responsible pet ownership.

• PDSA website

The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB): Dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats through improved feline knowledge and the funding of veterinary projects and studies. It provides training and advice for boarding catteries and information on all aspects of cat care.

• FAB website

Animal Shelters and Rescue Centres in London

There are many shelters and rescue centres throughout the UK. In London, the main ones are:

The Battersea Dog & Cats Home: This houses up to 400 dogs and 150 cats at any time. Before a pet is re-homed an interview will be arranged between all family members and a member of their re-homing staff, and a home visit may be required. Proof of residence will be necessary, and, if renting, confirmation that the landlord agrees. The animals will be fully vaccinated and microchipped, and there is a set fee to pay.

• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home website

The Mayhew Animal Home, in Kensal Green, North London: Rescues and re-homes abused or unwanted animals, and at any time has up to 40 dogs, 150 cats and up to 10 rabbits and guinea pigs. They also run a pet refuge and fostering programme for people who are unable to look after their pets on a temporary basis. To re-home a pet there is a questionnaire to fill out, followed by a meeting and a home visit.

• The Mayhew Animal Home website

Wood Green Animal Shelters has its main branch in Wood Green, North London, and has mostly cats available for re-homing. It is possible to register on their website and they will try to find a pet match.

• Wood Green Animal Shelters website

Lost and Found Animals

Increasingly, responsible pet owners are microchipping their pets and registering them. Microchips are implanted by vets and the reunification database is managed by PETtrac, which operates all year round.

• Tel: 0800 652 9 977
  PETtrac website

The UK National Missing Pets Register and the Pets Bureau are free services set up to alert members to missing pets.

• The UK National Missing Pets Register website
• Pets Bureau website

Boarding

To find a reputable boarding kennel or cattery, it is advisable to ask a vet or to go through local Cat or Kennel clubs.

Most boarding facilities require documentation proving that a pet is up to date with its vaccinations before they will accept it. It is advisable to treat pets against fleas, ticks and worms before they go into a kennel or cattery.

Threats to Pets

There are said to be over ten thousand foxes in London, and while they are not a threat to dogs and rarely attack cats, their natural prey includes small mammals, such as rabbits or guinea pigs.

There have been reports that procession caterpillars, whose toxic hairs can have a lethal effect on dogs and cats, have entered London, possibly via imported trees, but they are not thought to be numerous.

Pet Travel

The Pet Travel Scheme, or PETS, is the system that allows pet dogs and cats from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine against rabies, providing they meet certain rules. It also means that people in the UK can take their pets to other EU countries and return with them without quarantine.

To travel with a pet, it must be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies and blood tested. In addition, the pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworms not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before entering the UK.

• For more information from Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA): Click here
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Pet Travel and Moving With Animals to the UK

Public Transport

Dogs or domestic animals are allowed to travel on any form of public transport in London, unless there is a good reason to refuse them, such as if the animal seems dangerous or is likely to upset other passengers. Pets must be kept under control, on a lead or in a suitable container, and are not allowed on seats. Staff cannot take charge of any animal. Animals must be carried on moving escalators or through automatic ticket gates.

Assistant dogs are welcome on public transport, and there is no limit to the number of assistance dogs allowed on a bus, as long as there is space, and a dog does not block the passageway.

On the underground, Transport for London recommends asking a member of staff to open the manual gates and they may even stop the escalator to allow an animal to travel on it when it is safe to do so - generally when the station is not busy.

Further Information

• See The AngloFILE Dogs, Cats, Pets & Animals

1009cr