Paper tigers
In order to qualify for the pilot scheme, your dogs and cats must first be microchipped, have appropriate rabies vaccinations and have a clear blood test. When these three things are in order you then need to obtain a "PETS Certificate." This has to be issued by a veterinarian authorized by the UK government or by the government of one of the qualifying countries. You may also have to treat your pet for ticks and tapeworm before entering the UK.

Most of the qualifying countries in the first phase of the Pets scheme are in Europe. An exception will be guide and hearing dogs from Australia and New Zealand but that will depend on whether any airline is prepared to carry such dogs during the pilot scheme. Japan is not listed yet.

In 2001, the UK Pets scheme may also be extended to include other domestic pets like hamsters, mice, gerbils, Guinea pigs and rabbits. In the near future, it is expected that household pets from rabies-free islands, including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and others may be permitted to enter Britain minus the quarantine, although a definite date has not been announced as of this writing.

For more specific details, contact the UK's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) at www.maff.gov.uk/maffhome.htm or email pets@ahvg.maff/gov.uk, telephone +44-181-330-6835 or fax +44-181-330-8304.


A dog's life
Another change in quarantine law to note is Japan's. Previously, only pet dogs from countries that were not rabies-free were subject to two weeks' quarantine. Cats from those same countries, however, were allowed to enter Japan without quarantine. "When I returned nine years ago I brought my two cats with me from the US," says Lora Elway, an American residing in Tokyo. "I'd received all the necessary paperwork from my vet in New York, but the man at immigration wasn't at all bothered about seeing it. He just looked in the carrier and then turned to me and asked, 'Do these cats speak Japanese?' 'No, not yet,' I replied and he waved me through."

The incidence of rabies overseas, however, especially in the US, has been increasing. Since rabies has been detected in some free-roaming felines in the US, many communities are now requiring rabies vaccinations and licensing of cats.

Japan has been rabies-free for a long time. In order to keep it that way, as of January 1, 2000, cats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, as well as dogs, coming to Japan from countries that are not rabies-free, are subject to two weeks' quarantine.

For more information see www.animal-quarantine-service.go.jp (a very informative website in English and Japanese for those travelling to or from Japan with their pets) or telephone the Yokohama head office (045-751-5921) or the Tokyo office (03-3451-7555).

For other sources about animal quarantine or travel with pets, call the relevant embassy and also see www.aphis.usda.gov (tips on travelling to the US and animal health issues) or www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/newengland (click on "rabies" for links to animal quarantine information in other countries in English).