Pet Passports - one rule for humans and another for cats and dogs
89One rule for humans and another for pets
Speciesism is a term that I would say can be illustrated well when it comes to rules and laws for humans as contrasted with those for pet animals such as dogs and cats. There is a legal document known as a Pet Passport that has to be obtained if a pet owner wishes to transport a dog or cat by plane from one country to another.
One big problem I have with this is that a different set of rules are being made and enforced with regard to animals as opposed to people. Humans do not have to be subjected to medical treatment before they can board a plane but cats and dogs have to have this.
And yet the diseases and parasites it is argued this is designed to stop the spread of can be carried by humans just as easily as by animals. Humans are being given illogical and preferential treatment. Those who made the rules that apply here were speciesists.
Speciesism on eBay
|
ANTI-SPECIESISM (Antispe Green Anarchy Ecology) T-SHIRT
Current Bid: $18.69
|
|
NEW Global Harms: Ecological Crime and Speciesism - Sol
Current Bid: $77.42
|
|
ANTI-SPECIESISM (Antispe Green Anarchy Ecology) T-SHIRT
Current Bid: $13.04
|
Rabies books on eBay
|
Rabies (Biographies of Disease), P. Dileep Kumar, Acceptable Book
Current Bid: $38.64
|
My cat Tiggy
Pet Passport
I only found out about Pet Passports because I have been thinking seriously of leaving Tenerife in Spain and returning to the UK., and so I made some enquiries about what would be needed to be done for my cat to be able to travel. I was told, and the information is correct, that she would need a Pet Passport, and has to have a series of treatments by a vet to qualify.
What this actually entails is first of all a cat or dog has to be micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies. Then about a month later a blood test is carried out to check if enough antibodies have been formed in response to the vaccine. If not then the procedure has to be done again.
Of course all of this has to be paid for, and if that wasn't bad enough, in my case I am personally opposed to vaccinations and micro-chipping of animals and humans. I would refuse these procedures fro myself so it makes me a hypocrite to have them done to an animal in my care that depends on me and that I love.
I have read too that microchips embedded in animals have sometimes been thought to have caused cancer. This doesn't surprise me because it is an artificial object that the body will try to get rid of I would have thought.
The usual line that is given to convince people that chipping is a good idea is that if the pet gets lost it can be traced more easily because the chip will store its individual details. In the case of my cat this does not apply because she is a house-cat and never goes outside anywhere so could not get lost. Unless, of course, they are suggesting that the flight system is so badly organised that cargo goes astray!
The rabies vaccine is to protect against a disease she has no possibility of contracting. My cat never comes into contact with other mammals that could carry the virus so how could she get bitten and catch it?
I have never heard of any cases of rabies on this island and the disease is as good as eliminated from the UK too. So where is the possibility of her catching rabies supposed to come from?
Then after all that, before entering the UK another six months of time must go by in which time a Pet Passport can be applied for and issued. A vet has to confirm that the animal has been chipped and vaccinated.
Finally, just before, a cat is allowed to fly it has to see a vet again in the period of 48 hours beforehand when it is treated against ticks and tapeworms. It is also checked over and the vet has to issue it with a clean bill of health in order for it to travel.
Again I would ask why an animal that has no ticks and no tapeworms has to be treated for these parasites that are not present?
Although I am told otherwise by some friends, I am certain that my cat will hate all of these treatments, and I am worried that she might suffer allergic reactions to them too.
I am certain that if humans were told they had to have a vaccination against rabies, a microchip implanted, that they must have a blood test, further that they were not allowed to fly for another six months, and finally that they needed drug treatments for ticks and tapeworms before they could board a plane, they would be horrified and there would be a public outcry about this! Even more so if they also were expected to pay a lot of money for all this!
Pet Passport on eBay
|
Dog & Cat Pet Passport/Vaccine shot record
Current Bid: $6.99
|
|
Pet Small Animal Passport, Vital Info for Pet Owners
Current Bid: $4.00
|
|
ROGZ PASSPORT PET I.D.
Current Bid: $1.65
|
|
Honda C70 Passport fuel gas tap pet cock switch
Current Bid: $9.95
|
Money - the root of all evil
As far as I can see this is not about the welfare of the animals - though potentially is for the benefit of humans by virtue of protecting people from this disease and the parasites - but is far more about making money. It is about making money for the vets who administer the treatments, and money for the vaccine and drug manufacturers. In other words it is money for the medical industry and Big Pharma!
More money is needed for a flight ticket for an cat or dog to travel too. And it is a lot of money, far more than for a human! I have been quoted the minimum fare I can expect to pay for a cat to fly one way from Tenerife to the UK is 575 pounds sterling. That is double what it would cost for a person to be able to fly on the same route. Money for the airlines!
I found all of this hard to believe but there was another shock in store as well. Not all airlines allow you to personally book you pet into the cargo that is going in the hold of the plane, even if you have got the Pet Passport sorted out and paid the extortionate fee. In some cases you need to enlist the services of a travel agency that specialises in dealing with pets. They take your dog or cat to the airport on your behalf and book the animal in so it can be put on a plane.
This service comes at yet more cost. Some friends of mine told me (and as I found out they were indeed speaking the truth) that I would be lucky to see much change out of £1,000 to pay for everything needed to fly a cat to the UK from Tenerife.
I don't have that sort of money so am at present unable to go any further with this plan even if I wanted to and agreed with it.
What amazes me too though, is how many people seem to see nothing wrong with any of this and just go along with it all, as well as advising me to do likewise. It is another example of the police state/nanny state we live in.
People don't seem to be able to see that this is unfair treatment of another species and treatment they themselves are not expected to undergo, merely because they are humans. As I said before, surely this is speciesism in action?
Copyright © 2011 Steve Andrews. All Rights Reserved.
UPDATE: Since this was published DEFRA have changed the rules and it is now easier for pets to be flown to the UK - see the following link for new information on this: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/#a
Speciesism link
Pet Passport links
- What pet owners need to do Defra
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Taking your pets abroad : Directgov - Travel and transport
Details on how you may be able to take your pet abroad through the Pet Travel Scheme's (PETS) pet passports
Microchips linked to cancer in animals
- Chip Implants Linked to Animal Tumors - washingtonpost.com
-- When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives, letting doctors scan the tiny transponders to access patients' medical records almost instantly. The FDA found "reasona
A leading pet travel agent
- ladyhaye international pet travel agents
Ladyhaye. International pet travel agents for travel to and from the UK. Dog and cat boarding kennels with quarantine facilities and supply of pet travel boxes.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (14)
- Funny
- Awesome (2)
- Beautiful
- Interesting (11)
CommentsLoading...
Well, like I said, I not only disagree but I don't have that sort of crazy money being asked anyway so not moving unless I can find a solution!
I respect that you will not leave without your cat. There are people who would simply take the cat to the shelter. Pets are like family. The shelters insist that you microchip a pet upon adoption. I have two shelter dogs, and I had no choice to submit them to the process as a condition of adoption. I was not aware that it might cause cancer. As for the fee to fly the cat, that's absurd.
You are right, Bukowskibabe! I love my cat and if she cannot go then neither can I and if I ever do decide to do so then I somehow have to find a lot of money!
I never heard of this before--a pet passport, microchipping, and all that. The animals usually just go in an appropriate carrier in the hold or something, that's what I thought. I was interested to learn this and agree with the Bard.
That is so insane! Bard I feel bad now for having had my dogs microchipped! I didn't think about that - I only thought about not wanting to lose them. And I hate when the vet pushes things and I asked about these problems - the almost insisted it was the only right thing to do. Also I bought a years worth of stuff you out on their neck to keeps fleas away - never used it. After reading the pro's and cons - my dogs are too small I'm afraid it would hurt them.
Excellent learning hub!
There are many countries that require proof of small pox vaccination and others for human visitors. Just so you know. Lynda
What a sad dilemma. I have been toying with the idea of returning but in my case it would mean leaving family behind. I think in your case I would wait until she passes and then go back. The traffic in UK is a big reason not to return amongst other things! Good luck!
Yes, I know that, Lynda, but they don't have to be chipped, blood tested, treated for ticks and worms and subjected to six months wait!
Gypsy Willow, Tiggy is only eight. Part of the reason I was wanting to go back was because of my father who is 92 and been ill with arthritis.
I never knew such a document existed. I can understand the vaccine thing but the microchip thing baffles me. Our children has to have vaccinations before attending public schools to prevent future health problems. So I understand that if an animal is to travel to a foreign country they would not want any disease being transported with it. Why the microchip? Aren't a few shots enough?
I believe as you stated, it is not about the welfare of the animal, but a commercial thing. They know that people don't want to leave their pets behind, whether for vacation or permanently. This is ridiculous.
David Icke, whether you believe what he says or not, has often made the point of explaining how things get gradually introduced to us. He calls it "Totalitarian tiptoe." Microchipping pets would be an example of this to get us used to being chipped ourselves. The late film director Aaron Russo said that Nick Rockefeller told him that was the plan to get all the people chipped eventually.
everyone who carries a cell phone is already 'chipped'. Just because it isn't under your skin doesn't mean it can't be used to find you.
And with 'smart' phones, they not only know where you are, but who you associate with, what you buy, what your tastes in music or fashion are, what you believe, what you like. . .what web sites you frequent.
All of that information is stored in a server everytime you make a call, everytime someone calls or texts you, or anytime your active phone pings a tower so that it knows where to direct a call to you.
We are all chipped everytime we make a credit card purchase, everytime we order something online, every ebay and amazon purchase.
Every hub post.
cheers
Big Bother is watching us!. Irritating isn't it?
Anton, personally I don't use a cell phone but I take your point!
Really enjoyed this hub. I wouldn't vaccinate or microchip myself, either, so I completely understand your point. Even a land-crossing at the U.S.-Canada border can be problematic with a cat now. It doesn't help that these guys don't even know the actual policies and laws of the departments they work for at times.
Enjoyed this and looking forward to reading more in the future.
Dearest Steve,
I am so glad Tiggy has you and that you won't leave for the UK without Tiggy!
Alas, there are some very good reasons for so many of the "hoops" you are made to jump through for traveling with beloved pets! The top reason is 9/11!
Before returning to California ten years ago I lived on the other side of the country! My aged cocker spaniel traveled with me by plane to our new destination in late August 2001! The rest of my fur-family stayed with friends until I could return for them a few weeks later!
Two weeks later two planes fell the Twin Towers in NYC and none of us has ever been the same!
Most pets, even accompanied by their owners, were not allowed on the airlines in the U.S. for nearly a year! It turns out there were numerous attempts of "beloved pets" being used for transport of narcotics and bombs!
Who would suspect a precious kitty, (or dog or other animal) having been recently spayed, would have a tummy full of illegal drugs or worse!
One of the reasons for the 48 hour quarantine ahead of flight is the bomb issue!
After months of trying to work with any and all airlines to get my fur-family back together, I finally paid a young couple to drive all of them across the country back to me! Ten years ago that cost $2,000!
Some of the other "hoops" are just deterrents to discourage anyone who is not completely in love with their pets from traveling with them! The risks are just too high for the airlines and passengers!
As for shots and micro-chipping, mine are all in-door pets as well with no chance of getting close to other pets and being contaminated! BUT, they are all current on their shots and micro-chipped!
Life can change in the next heartbeat! Mine could stop or the earth could have a big one! In either case, I want my beloved pets to have the best chance possible!
If something should happen to me, I have made arrangements for others to care for them the rest of their lives! I cannot put that burden on someone else AND expect them to do all the vet care at that time!
The same with earthquakes! If we get hit like Japan I expect my pets will be forced to fend for themselves! Especially if it hits when I am not at home! The quickest way for me to get them back, assuming we all survive, is with micro-chips implanted!
Even if someone were to break into my home and they got out; I would want the best possible scenario for getting them back! Micro-chipping may cause cancer, but it probably won't happen in their lifetimes!
As for traveling with dearest Tiggy, please DO NOT EVER consider transporting her in the cargo hull! 1) Over 10,000 pieces of baggage get lost each DAY in the U.S. alone ~ including animals, 2) the cargo hull is not pressurized the same way the cabin is ~ that's why lotions in checked baggage explode sometimes, 3) when connecting flights are delayed, baggage is set out on the tarmac for hours in the heat or cold, 4) I could go on and on about the horror stories of pets and the cargo hull!
Tiggy can go in a carry-on and fly with you in the cabin ~ it's safer and usually a lot less expensive! (The limit in the U.S. is two pets per flight so you need to book well in advance!) I know Tiggy is soooooooooooo happy to have you to love and care for her!
You are the BEST Mr. Steve Bard of Ely!
Blessings Always to you and Tiggy!! Earth Angel!
Thank you for your feedback, Bud and Earth Angel!
Earth Angel, you say the cargo hold is a danger so that means this is impossible seeing as there is no way she would be allowed on the plane because she is too big and from what I have read they would not allow a big carrying box on board. My baggage once got left out when flying here because it was all soaked when I collected it and had obviously been left out in the rain for a long time.
I don't particularly like air travel and only done it when it was required for my employment.In the United States rabies shots are required in order to get a dog license.Microchipping does not have much advantage over an ordinary dog tag as far as I can tell.
Thanks for posting,Dahoglund! Never would I have dreamed that taking on a cat would be such a very expensive and difficult responsibility! People say, cats are easy to look after, but it's simply not true unless you are rich!
Money, money, money! I live near a cemetary,and we have lots of stray cats here. After seeing a stray kitten get feline distemper, I went to the vet supply store and learned how to give the strays the shot myself. I couldn't afford to take them all to the vet. If they're not too feral, I help em out. The shots are in a series of two, but I get a vial that holds ten shots. That way, I have it on hand and can help five cats. I have some in my frig now. I try to get the females spayed too. So far, have spayed three cats, but even at low cost spay clinic, it's a bite out of the budget. It's all about the dollar bill.
Dearest Dahoglund,
An ordinary dog tag is attached to a collar and is easily removed or slipped out of; a micro-chip is not. An ordinary dog tag has limited information; a micro-chip does not.
Blessings always, Earth Angel
Dearest BulowskiBabe,
The world needs more open hearts like yours and Bard's! Animals and pets need our loving attention and consideration! Thanks for all the good deeds!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!
You are right, BukowskiBabe! It is all about money! That is such great work you have been doing and it is a great shame there aren't more people about like you! Thank you for your latest comments too, Earth Angel!
Good Morning Dearest Bard Steve of Ely!
So glad Tiggy will never suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous misfortune in a cargo hull!
Just so you know, if you ever are forced by opportunity to travel with Tiggy, it is possible!
I have two big kitties, both 18 years old and both over 21 pounds! My beloved cocker was 29 pounds!
The trick is not in hard-sided carriers but in soft-sided sherpas made specifically to airline specifications! Anti-anxiety medicine for a kitty is a loving addition! (Borrow one and mail it back!)
Pets are not really forced to fit under the seat in front of you on the airlines! At your feet during take off and landing is sufficient!
The cost of carrying on beloved Tiggy in a sherpa is far less than the cargo hull bill would be! In the U.S. right now it is under $100 for across the country!
Still not an inexpensive process when it's all added up, and the learning curve is steep as the rules change all the time, but our beloved fur-angels are so well worth the effort!
Certainly there must be a song about Tiggy in here somewhere!?
Have a GREAT day gentle soul! Earth Angel!
Well this is brilliant news, Earth Angel, and I really hope this could be done with any of the airlines that operate here. I have not seen anything but then you have to search out the info that is published about pets travelling.
You and the Tiggy are most welcome!! ;-)
Hi there!
I have done a LOT of research on this as I am going to move to the UK with my pets. Here is how it works: when travelling within the U.S or even between the U.S and most E.U countries, you can indeed bring your pets on board the plane, as Earth Angel suggested. I have done so on numerous trips myself across the U.S as well as from the U.S to Sweden. In Sweden (also part of the E.U and does not have existing Rabies) you just take your pet and enter the "red zone" at the customs, meaning you have something to declare. The customs personnel check the Pet Passport and scan the micro chip, and providing it checks out okay, you can just walk through, free of charge. That is, however, not the case with the U.K. The U.K customs at airports will charge a £325 "pet documentation inspection fee" to check the E.U Pet Passport or Health Certificate. I think this is really strange, as one would have thought that's part of their job and I've never paid a fee to have my own passport inspected. Pets are not allowed in the cabin when flying into the U.K, unless you have a registered guide dog, no matter how small your cat or dog is. Furthermore, they have recently made things even more complicated by only allowing "pet agents" to make reservations on your behalf. This is most ridiculous as I have always made my own arrangements for my pets while flying and it is hardly complicated. Enough with the problems and now for the solution: The good news is, there is one! You can to fly to France and then drive to your destination crossing the channel via ferry or the tunnel. There are several Defra P.E.T.S approved routes, but you must have Tiggy in a car. You are not allowed to carry a carrier by hand and get on the ferry as a pedestrian. I am going to cross Calais to Dover and P&O Ferries charge a £15 pet fee for my dog. There is absolutely no way I am sending my dog as cargo and I would never let a "pet agent" handle her. So, best thing for you to do would be to fly to France and have Tiggy with you in the cabin, then hire a car and drive to the ferry/tunnel and cross. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring pets on Eurostar trains and not on coaches. You can cross the channel from Holland to Harwich, so it doesn't have to be France, if you can find a cheaper flight to Holland. You can find the approved routes on the Defra website. You still have to micro chip and give the rabies shot and all that, but at least you can keep Tiggy with you on the plane which is MUCH cheaper than sending them as cargo and not nearly as stressful for the pets, and you don't have the added cost of the pet agent. Also, if you travel after 1/1 2012 you no longer have to wait 6 months from the date of vaccination before you can do the rabies titer test. The new rule will be 21 days. Re. the micro chips, my pets have always been chipped due to my international travels, and I have never had any health problems because of it. Tabitha, my tiny 13 year old cat, has been chipped since she was a kitten, and she is as healthy as can be. As is my boy cat, who is 6. They will of course join us in England once I've set up home, and they too will travel via France.
Please let me know if you have any questions as I am pretty sure I will be able to answer them due to my several phone calls to DEFRA as well as Heathrow airport and my many hours of searching the internet. Also, several of my English pet-owning friends have taken their pets back to the U.K via France when returning from holidays, so I know for a fact that it works. Rest assured I will bring this up with the E.U Court of Justice, as all of this is beyond ridiculous and without merit. One must assume the goal here would be to keep rabies under control and that is hardly achieved by forcing pets to travel as cargo, using expensive pet agents and the customs charging pet documentation inspection fees.
Best of luck to you and Tiggy!
Thank you, Anna, for this very detailed and useful information which is much appreciated! I still have a very big problem besides finding the costs for all this and that is I don't drive!
Hmmm... Yes, I can understand that would be a problem. Maybe check on Gumtree? You can find travel partners there, and I'm sure someone would let you ride i their car. I would definitely help you, if I could. I am crossing next weekend, so that would probably be too soon? You can also check the London Craigslist for sharing a ride. Also, come Jan. 2012, when the law will be less strict, I would think/hope trains and coaches may start accepting pets. Sorry I couldn't find a better solution...
Anna, at present it is going to have to be next year anyway because I haven't started any of the steps needed.Hopefully the changes next year will help me achieve this! Where I live now pets are not allowed on buses and in taxis which is another problem so I am not surprised about the trains and coaches but I think it is all crazy, and as I have said in this hub it is a definite example of speciesism.
Couldn't agree more. It is indeed crazy and very frustrating.
When the time comes, I hope things will go smoothly for you and Tiggy!
Thank you again for all your advice here!
You are so right Bard. It's just the picking of pockets by another department of the medical profession. With new highten love and caring of domesticated animals, these vermin seek to fill their all ready full coffers literally at our expense!
Good Morning Bard and Anna,
Wow! Anna, thank you for such detailed information regarding traveling with pets in Europe! Sounds like you have gone through the same rigors I had to go through in the U.S.! But the good news is there is always a solution! I love how you were able to find yours and that your beloved fur-family will travel in safety!
I know Bard appreciates your comments as well, as he said above! Sooooooooo complicated! But our beloved fur-angels are so well worth the effort!
I look at the six (2 cats, 4 dogs) all laying peacefully at my feet and cannot imagine my life without any of them!
Blessings to all Pet-Lovers! Earth Angel!
Thanks for agreeing, pmcray! Thanks for your latest comments, Earth Angel! Looks like I will be staying put until next year at the earliest with all of these problems to be tackled.
Gosh, Steve...that's an awful lot of money, time and unnecessary steps for pet travel. I can see why you're upset. Shoot, by the time you put out for all that, you could probably charter a ride back on a private plane. At least you're only paying the person. :D Didn't your cat just go through all that before going to Spain?
No, Lea, Tiggy was already here and I took her on - she was my landlady's cat who was leaving here! I can't afford this sort of crazy money and I can't bear being parted from Tiggy so the thought of giving her to someone else just isn't right and I know I would regret it so very badly and so not a lot I can do! I am stuck!
Dearest Steve and Tiggy,
I am going to keep good thoughts that some huge amazingly large financial contract comes through for you both in the UK and that they fly you both by private charter to your dream destination as part of your star treatment!
"Stand by your Tiggy!"
Blessings to you both! Earth Angel!
Thank you, Earth Angel!
my main comment is on Ickes forum but in essense your perception is pretty accurate.
Best of luck to you and Tiggy!
Thank you, seercyanascens, and invitationwrite!
I have three cats, and I can certainly relate to any concerns regarding transporting them. I never knew about pets requiring passports. I used to take my dog accross the border years ago, and it wasn't enforced, but that was a while ago. Thanks for the info!
Thank you for posting!
Tiggy looks so cute, I have 3 cats too Poppy, Tyger and Mini-me, can't believe you have to get a passport??
What's all that about???
Suitcase springs to mind baaa
It's crazy isn't it? Thanks for posting, Baarbaara!
Really that's very funny Thanks. you have solved my problem that i was searching fro to send my friend that love cats
Your cat's name is 'Tiggy'?? Mine ones is 'Tigger'... I wonder if they are related...
:-)
Wow, that sure is crazy! I never would have thought it would be so much hastle and cost so much! Really very interesting.
Thanks for posting!
Very interesting post! Thanks a lot for your kind sharing~
Thank you for your comment!
Wow amazing article i would have never of guessed, and know i know i am glad i read this... thanks a ton
You are welcome!
Wow. That's crap. But I respect you for staying with the cat too. We have a dog and a cat and they are as much a part of the family as people.
It is beyond crap, Pam! I feel like I am caught in a trap here that I had no way of knowing of in advance!
Great article. One thing that I might add is that I have never heard of a cat or dog wanting to hijack or blow up a plane. No such thing as animal terrorists.
Thanks for your great comments, Steveso! Neither have I! lol
Very interesting, thanks, never realised there was quite so much to it
Thank you for commenting!
I agree with most thing you said, I have had pet Oingy micro chipped, as i was planning on taking him on holiday with me, I never realised it can cause cancer.
So what sort of eveidence is there/ or has there been a case where it has caused cancer already?
I would be well interested if any1 can let me know if there are any facts on this. Thanks Becky x
Becky, I don't think there is any 'proof' but I have seen several reports about it such as this: http://www.naturalnews.com/030108_microchips_anima and this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
Wow, that sure is crazy!
Yes, isn't it?
The point is that you cannot "go with your pet" because it is put in the hold of the plane!
PETER LUMETTA Level 6 Commenter 10 months ago
Well Steve, you are lucky they didn't just say no. Although aircarriers are public transportation once in their clutches they get very Captain Blyish in their rules and refulations. If there is any complaints they just tell you to go somewhere else, knowing full well there is no alternatives. It is a one party system with no appeals. Good Luck, Peter