Shipping Pets

Licensing

Licensing requirements can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-united-kingdom-great-britain-england-scotland.

Registration

Once your pet is cleared to be in the United Kingdom there is generally no licensing required, however, all pet owners assigned to RAF Lakenheath are required to register their pets at the RAF Feltwell Veterinary Clinic within two weeks of arrival.

Veterinary Services

The mission of the United States Army Veterinary Detachment at RAF Feltwell is to examine, immunize, and treat pets of Defense Department personnel stationed in the United Kingdom. The Public Health Command, District Southern Europe unit in RAF Feltwell is the only United States military clinic for all of the United Kingdom and Iceland. There are satellite clinics held monthly at RAF Alconbury and RAF Croughton.

Registration documents include:

• DD Form 2343, Veterinary Health Record
• Copy of permanent change of station orders
• Photocopy of the sponsor's identification card
• Copy of the pet's vaccination record and medical record

For more information, contact the United States Army Veterinary Detachment at DSN 226-7097 or COMM +44-01638-52-7097. Please call prior to going to RAF Feltwell to ensure they are taking walk-in customers.

Vaccinations/Microchip

It is a UK law that you pet must be microchipped and registered with an online database. Every country requires it for import and travel as well.

Both cats and dogs need an up to date rabies vaccination to travel.

EU Pet Travel (Pet Passports): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/en/about-us/publicinterest/travel/petpassport.html

USA Pet Travel: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/

Heathrow Animal Reception Center (Flying Your Pet In Cabin): https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/Pages/default.aspx

Special Notification for Military Members/Families Traveling with Pets to the United Kingdom:

If you are planning a move to the United Kingdom with your pet, please be aware that pet travel options may be limited.

Pets can now enter the UK from select countries after they have been processed through the Pet Travel Scheme. In order to successfully transit your pet into the UK, you must read, understand and follow the rules of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Guidelines for bringing your pet to the UK from the United States:

• Step 1 - Have your pet microchipped - Before any other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified. The microchip will need to conform to the International Organization for Standardization 15 digit regulation and be implanted prior to any vaccinations.
• Step 2 - Have your pet vaccinated - After the microchip has been fitted your, pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept current. The waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are current. If the vaccination is in two parts, the 21-day wait begins after the second vaccination.
• Step 3 -USDA certificate- After your pet receives a microchip and Rabies vaccination, you need to obtain a health certificate. All of which is annotated on a Third-country certificate from your vet. You must get an official pet passport or a European Union (EU) embossed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinary stamped certificate. You then send the third country certificate and the health certificate to your nearest USDA office, one of which is located in each state. When the USDA issues you a raised embossed stamped certificate, you have a maximum 4-month window in which to arrive in the UK.

In addition to the certificate, you must have your pet's Original vaccination record (reflecting the microchip number) with you when traveling.

• Step 4 - Get pet travel documentation - For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory, you will need to obtain an official Third-country veterinary certificate (apart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland, who also issue pet passports).
• Step 5 - Tapeworm treatment - (dogs only): Before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (one to five days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. Please make sure your vet annotates this tapeworm procedure on the third country certificate.

(No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).

• Step 6 - Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorized route - Your pet must enter the UK from an approved country or territory and travel with an approved transport company on an authorized route. You will be required to inform the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) on your travel plans to ensure they have an available kennel to receive them and hire an approved Pet Broker who will assist in completing necessary customs documentation on your behalf.

When your pet arrives in the UK by air, its microchip and official documentation are checked by staff at the Animal Reception Centre. Your pet may be subjected to a further official check by the DEFRA. If your pet fails the check, it must be quarantined or be deported. If your pet fails because of the tick and tapeworm treatment it must be treated and held for 24 hours. It is advisable to reserve a quarantine kennel because Heathrow stays are very expensive.

• Step 7- Mandatory registration of pets at Feltwell Veterinary clinic must be accomplished within two weeks of arrival. They can be reached via telephone +44 1638-52-7097 or 226-7097. 

PLEASE MAKE PHOTO COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTATION.

REIMBURSEMENT GUIDANCE:

Effective 1 January 2024, the JTR authorizes Service members reimbursement of the costs related to the relocation of a pet that can occur during a permanent change of station (PCS). Under this policy members may be reimbursed up to $550 for a PCS move within the continental United States and up $2,000 for a PCS move outside the continental United States to assist members in covering expenses directly related to a pet’s transportation, such as pet shipment and quarantine fees.

Eligibility:
− A Service member must be on PCS orders with an effective date of 1 January 2024 or later to receive the authorized reimbursement.
− One household pet is authorized per Service member on PCS orders. A household pet is defined as a cat or dog.
− The traveler must ensure their pet has met the requirements of the destination country (health certificate, immunization, quarantine, and border clearance requirements). Denial of entry can result in a denial of reimbursement. Reimbursement for this program will be completed via a PCS vouchers.
− Any air travel used for the pet shipment should be Government or Government procured transportation and should be booked through Traffic Management Operations (TMO) or Travel Management Company (TMC) if at all possible.
− Pet transportation may begin when PCS orders are effective.
− All expenses, travel, and reimbursement must be incurred after the policies effective date of 1 January 2024.
− Any personally procured air transportation that is not authorized will limit pet transportation reimbursement to the AMC flight cost or if AMC Patriot Express is not available to the cost of transportation from old PDS to new PDS. IAW JTR 050204.

Documentation:
− Receipts
-All receipts are required for reimbursement including those under $75, the receipts must be itemized and indicate they are for 1 pet and include the name of the pet if possible (especially for specialized care the pet receives such as when receiving vaccinations).
-If a pet is flying as cargo because it exceeds the weight limit to fly via Government or Government procured transportation the receipt must include the weight of the pet.
− Non-Availability letter
- If you are self-procuring tickets at a location that is serviced by the Patriot Express you must have a non-availability letter and the appropriate remarks on your orders or you will only receive reimbursement up to the cost of shipping the pet via the Patriot Express.
-All documentation used to attain a non-availability letter when shipping a pet must be included in documentation (such as the mission impact statement).

For a PCS Within CONUS
− Reimbursement is limited to $550 per PCS

For a PCS to or between OCONUS locations
− Reimbursement is limited to $2,000 per PCS
− Costs eligible for reimbursement include: mandatory microchipping, quarantine fees, boarding fees, hotel service charges, licensing fees at the new PDS, testing titer level (antibodies) for entry, and pet shipping fees if the member flies rather than drives or if the pet is shipped separately from the member.

For further information or guidance email: af.a1pa.workflow@us.af.mil

Quarantine Kennels

It is strongly recommended that you contact quarantine kennels, in case your pet requires quarantine on arrival. Ensure that the kennel you contact is a quarantine kennel as they differ from normal kennels. Make sure that you ask about all charges to include the tick and tapeworm treatment, transportation from the airport, any vet fees etc. Ask your losing or gaining finance office about possible partial reimbursement for quarantine fees.

Tips and Reminders

• Have your sponsor book a pet room with Lodging as far in advance as possible, these rooms are in high demand and if unavailable can limit your reimbursable travel costs.
• Remain current on any travel (country and airline) regulations such as temperature and animal breed restrictions.
• Plan to arrange travel for your pet through larger international US airports as many small airports/airlines do not have pet shipping capabilities.

Additional Information

Banned Breeds

The British government has placed a ban on the importation of certain dogs bred for fighting. The ban includes Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brazilieros, XL Bully and any other type of dog which appears to have been bred for fighting.

If you have a pet other than a dog or cat, you will need to determine the import requirements stipulated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Most canaries, parakeets and cockatiels can be imported, however, you should contact the Import of Birds Section of DEFRA to confirm the importation of your species. Birds must be quarantined for 35 days after arrival, which can usually be done in your home with visits by a vet. A veterinary examination is necessary before it departs the United States.

Pets in Government Housing

Please reach out to the RAF Lakenheath Housing Office for ‘Pets in Air Force Housing Guidelines’.

Please see the host nation website for additional information as well:

• Banned Dogs Guidelines
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-definition-of-an-xl-bully-dog

There are many pet boarding facilities available in the immediate area surrounding RAF Lakenheath. Before you decide on one, keep the following in mind:

• Make sure your pet's vaccinations are current as boarding kennels will not take your pet if vaccinations have expired.
• If your pet is on medication, leave clear instructions and ample supplies with company.
• Boarding kennels offer their own food, but if you have specific feeding instructions, discuss this with the kennel company.
• Make sure the pet is wearing an identification tag.
• Leave the pet's veterinary emergency contact information.