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Assistance dogs flying high
with Pet Passports
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| During the flight to Scotland, Endal found he was more comfortable on the carpeted floor for his nap than trying to fit on a seat. |
NEW guidelines, allowing assistance dogs to travel with their owners on long haul flights under the Pet Passport Scheme, were launched at Gatwick Airport on Monday April 4.
Assistance dogs can now travel in the cabin of airlines with their owners, for a recommended maximum journey time of 10 hours. The revised arrangements will be valid on certain long haul routes into Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to carry animals into the UK under the Pet Passport scheme.
Previously, assistance dogs entering the UK on long haul routes had to travel in the hold of the aircraft. The charities had expressed concern that the dogs would become disorientated and distressed, meaning they might not be ready to work once reunited with owners at the destination airport.
Tom Pey, Guide Dogs' director of policy and development, said: "We're delighted with the co-operation of BAA airlines and Defra in allowing assistance dogs to travel with their owners on long haul flights.
"Assistance dogs and their disabled owners form an extraordinary partnership, and it's essential that this companionship remains whilst in transit."
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| Allen and Sandra Parton and Endal - a relaxed family on its way to Scotland. |
Charlotte Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, commented: "For many years, assistance dog users have been able to take their dogs into the passenger cabin for domestic flights. But for those who wanted to travel further afield the choice in many cases was to put the dog in the aircraft hold, or to leave it at home. A stark - and, frankly, inappropriate - choice for any assistance dog user to have to make. "I am delighted that that the assistance dog organisations, the air industry, regulators and assistance dog charities have worked together to develop an effective system for allowing assistance dogs to travel with their owners in the passenger cabin of aircraft. This will make a real difference to many thousands of disabled people and their assistance dogs."
Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) is now campaigning for more airlines and airports to support the Pet Passport initiative, so that assistance dog users have a real choice of routes and carriers when planning their journey.
NB: ADUK membership includes Canine Partners, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, Dogs for the Disabled and Support Dogs.
Background information
International Travel for Guide Dogs and other Assistance Dogs under the Pets Passport Scheme:
- To meet the rules of the Pet Passport scheme, the dog must be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested. It will not be able to re-enter the UK until six calendar months have passed from the date the vet took the blood sample that led to a satisfactory blood test result.
- The dog must be treated against ticks and tapeworms between 24 and 48 hours before it is checked in to travel on the approved route to the UK.
- Defra-approved routes are available into Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester. (See Defra website for details of routes).
- Assistance dog owners are encouraged to plan ahead and discuss travel plans with airline or booking agent.
- Owners should bring with them identification for themselves and their dog as well as a suitable car safety harness for securing the dog during flight.
- Pet Passport documentation should be sent by fax to the Animal Reception Centre, at the UK destination airport, ahead of flight departure.
- On arrival back in the UK, a nominated person will meet the assistance dog owner at the arrival gate where documentation will be checked in accordance with the Pet Passport Scheme.
- Once it has passed its check, the animal reception staff will attach a sticker to the dog, enabling it and its owner to continue through Customs and Immigration to their onward journey.
Further information on the Pet Passport scheme at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index/htm
UK Airlines signed up to the future carriage of Assistance Dogs in the cabin of the aircraft are:
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Britannia Airways, EasyJet, First Choice Airways.
Definition of an Assistance Dog:
An Assistance Dog is one which has been specifically trained to assist a disabled person and which has been qualified by one of the charitable organisations registered as members of Assistance Dogs (UK). Assistance Dogs trained by members of Assistance Dogs (UK) will have formal identification and have been granted certification by the Department of Health on the basis that the dog's high standards of training, behaviour, health and welfare are such that it should be permitted to accompany its client, owner or partner at all times and in all places within the United Kingdom.
Assistance dogs from other nations, when entering the UK, should meet the full membership criteria of the established international assistance dog organisations - Assistance Dogs International and Assistance Dogs Europe - or other such bodies as may from time to time be recognised.
The following Assistance Dog organisations are registered members of Assistance Dogs (UK): Canine Partners, Dogs for the Disabled, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Support Dogs.
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