New Rules for Traveling to the UK with a Pet as of 01/2012

Below is a summary of the new rules for bringing a pet to the UK. Unfortunately, they still haven't let up on the part about a pet having to travel as cargo. It appears that they added "Tapeworm Treatment" to their list that Italy did not require. Having just been to Italy, I have to say that my stress and my dog's stress levels were greatly reduced because he was traveling in a crate under my seat. So, I guess the UK is not on our travel plans for now.

From 1 January 2012 all pet dogs, cats and ferrets (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country or territory the pet is coming from.

Preparing your dog, cat or ferret when traveling from the USA:
• Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
• 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 up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
• Step 3 – 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 4 – 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 (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
• Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
Approved EU routes and transport companies
The following routes and transport companies may be used to bring pet dogs, cats and ferrets into the UK. On some air routes, registered assistance dogs may travel in the cabin. Other dogs, cats and ferrets will travel as cargo.

Grazie Google Translate and Vadafone!

My life has just become easier. Now that I have access to the internet at my house I used Google Translate to replace my much missed room mate Paulina. I wrote my questions and responses in English and Fiorella read the translation in Italian. We had a wonderful personal conversation this morning and I think that helped both of us get to know each other better. Much of our conversation I will keep to myself but we did talk about the cost of things. Electricity here isn't as expensive as water, but then they don't have A/C or dryers. Pensions are pretty low here but then social security is also little. She has lived in her house for 38 years. She keeps it beautifully.

The school didn't tell her who my new room mate would be or where they are from so it will be a surprise to both of us. She only takes women in her home so at least we know that much.

I tried to take a video of piazza grande this morning but somehow only 2 seconds recorded. I will practice more so I can add videos periodically to this blog.

Seymour and I went to the supermarket again this morning. I am now getting 6 cans of dog food at a time. I will have to up my food budget! On the way down we saw a small parade with drummers and a few people in Rennaissance costumes. On the way back, the parade grew very large and there were many groups of period costumes. I'm not sure what it was about. I tried to ask Fiorella (without using google translate) and I think she said they were students but since they were all ages, I probably didn't ask the question right. I will post pictures of the parade later today.

Fiorella is cleaning the house to get ready for the new student who will be staying a month so Seymour and I are back at piazza grande. There are lots of tourists and tour groups in town. I love feeling more and more like a local. Seymour is getting used to the church bells. In fact they are going off right now and he is shaking a little but is still resting beside me. I can't say the same for the drums in the parade. They really scared him and passed by closely so I had to hold his ears and hold him close to me to calm him down. Piano, piano.

I am very comfortable here but will be more comfortable as my Italian gets better. In fact, I get sad thinking of leaving Montepulcian in two weeks. I went to buy my bus ticket to Chiusi today. That is where I catch a train - to somewhere.

But at least I have 2 more weeks to enjoy this city.

BTW, I did see that the Italians and French have the longest lifespan in all of Europe and surpass USA. We need to exercise and drink more wine!!

Last Minute Preparations for Italy

I am still doing last minute packing and trying to figure out how to get everything into my carry-on. It wasn't hard to get the clothes I wanted to bring into my suitcase but my electronics, plugs, adaptors and misc. stuff is not working out as well. I'm just hoping they don't tell me that I have to check my bag. It will defeat the whole purpose of packing light!

But I wanted to share a couple home made things I'm bringing. One is a clothes line. Yes, they sell things like this but why pay the high price? I had a lot of elastic hair bands that I make into my own clothes line. I tried it out in my bathroom. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

I also wanted more secret pockets, so using what I had in the house, I sewed a little change purse into Seymour's sling. I was afraid it would be like the Princess and the Pea, and he would find it uncomfortable to sleep on it. I am using it as an extra blanket in his crate to save room and to give himn something soft to sleep on in the plane. As you can see from the 2 pictures, it is not so secret since the stitches show on the outside, but hopefully it will work.

OK, time to get back to the packing.
And as usual, Seymour is sleeping.