Taking your pet abroad
Until recently it was impossible to import your dog or cat into the United Kingdom, without the pet having to remain in quarantine for six months.
With an increase in the number of Britons purchasing holiday homes abroad, and the ease and affordability of travel to Europe, it was only a matter of time before the very strict quarantine regulations would be revised to allow pets to travel along with their owners for a holiday too.

However, a pet passport requires much more than a photograph and a paw print signature. The whole process takes a minimum of seven months to complete, and should ideally be started before you have even booked your holiday!
Full details can be found on the DFRA website.
Here's the low-down on pet passports anad the basic requirements, eligible countries, as well as some general pet travel tips.

Eligible countries
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) means that when travelling from most European countries or some long-haul, rabies-free countries, some animals can be brought back into the UK without having to go through quarantine (note that some countries have certain exceptions, check the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for details).

The list of long-haul countries is currently:

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Australia
3. Barbados
4. Bermuda
5. Cayman Islands
6. Falkland Islands
7. Fiji
8. Martinique
9. French Polynesia
10. Guadeloupe
11. Hawaii
12. Jamaica
13. Japan
14. La Réunion
15. Mauritius
16. Mayotte
17. Montserrat
18. New Caledonia
19. New Zealand
20. Singapore
21. St Helena
22. St Kitts and Nevis
23. Ascension Island
24. St Vincent
25. Vanuatu
26. Wallis and Futuna

Steps to take
Your pet dog (including seeing-eye and hearing dogs) or cat must fulfil certain criteria before she or he travels, which must be done in the following order:

1. be fitted with a microchip
2. be vaccinated against rabies
3. be blood tested
4. be issued with an official PETS certificate
5. be treated for tapeworm and tick - and have an official certificate to prove it
6. you must sign a declaration of residency

Then, when the actual journey is taking place, the animal must enter or re-enter the UK on a route approved by PETS. For the latest information on this, visit the DEFRA website. On arrival, transport staff will check all your certification. If any checks fail, your pet is likely to either go into quarantine, or be returned to the country from which it has just come.

Taking care of your pet
Help make your pet's journey as comfortable as possible by following these pointers:

1. make sure your pet is as fit and healthy as possible to withstand the journey
2. give them a light meal before they travel
3. give your pet the opportunity to go to the toilet before it is put in its carrying container
4. let your pet 'try out' the carrying container before the trip
5. the carrying container should be well-ventilated, roomy enough for the animal to move around, safe (no trapped paws please!), and have adequate
6. food and water for the trip, with easily-refillable containers for a long journey
7. put a familiar-smelling cushion or rug in the container to help your pet settle

For more information about pet health, visit DEFRA or the RSPCA.

With thanks to www.bbc.co.uk for this information