Dogsey

I hope it stops rabies spreading to counries that are at present virtually rabies free.

Agree with Tang - rabies is a real problem with animal traffickers.

They are talking about bringing in mandatory 2yr rabies vaccs here in Cyprus AZZ. Based solely on the number of animals coming in from E. European countries (well Romania was what the vet said) where they are lax about the rules and regs.

I don't think anyone who ever 'developed the symptoms' of rabies after becoming infected has ever survived.

We are also very near countries like Israel who aren't in the EU but where rabies is endemic. Not such a risk since Ferries from Israel were stopped a while back - of course smuggling activities are higher at seaports than airports.

But what I hear is the strict guidelines are not being adhered to in the departure countries. And it's cheap to bring in pets by plane from countries in EU other than UK.

Wouldn't wish such a horrible disease on any country that has managed to become and remain rabies free.

I don't relish getting little Bella dosed with all sorts (she has to have them all for travel and boarding) but will happily support a campaign for mandatory rabies vaccs here.

It's not just the pet travel scheme details that need changing though. The people at customs checking these passports need to be more up to speed on what a 15 week old puppy actually looks like! More thorough checks need to be in place. That said, the traffickers will try to find a loophole in the changes and will likely still find illegal ways to bring puppies in.

I was in contact with a breeder before my current one, who was SO set on bringing the pup in to the UK at 10 or 12 weeks old. She told me it would have a rabies jab, but I don't believe her. She said she knew what she was doing and there would be no problems! Thankfully I knew enough to be wary and I turned her down. When I did she became very rude towards me! Thankfully my current breeder is happy to go by the rules and my puppy will not be entering the UK until he is 15 weeks old.

Good for you Lou. Too many would have been only too happy with a breeder who was prepared to 'bend the rules'. Sadly there are also VETS who will too.

As with all other laws and regulations - it will all come down to whether they are rigidly enforced.

As Israel is not an island it is impossible to stop wildlife from adjacent countries from entering, and there is a mandatory yearly rabies vaccination for dogs. This is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture under the owner's ID number [as is a microchip number] but too many people do not bother.

There are also, of course, dumped dogs/street dogs which are never vaccinated or microchipped therefore are unregistered, to say nothing of all the feral cats.

Pet Passports are required for pet dogs or cats entering Israel. http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Israel.cfm

Oral vaccine for foxes and jackals has been put down since 2004 but there has been a surge of rabies in north-eastern Israel on the border with Syria, in spite of the oral vaccination, caused by rabid stray dogs coming from Syria and infecting unvaccinated pets and susceptible animals.

However, when there is even a suspected rabies case the local area is put under quarantine and all stray animals are rounded up, and there have been no recorded human cases of rabies since 2003.

I have been disturbed to read on various social media sites that puppies are expected into the UK who are clearly under age. No doubt some will get through to the detriment of all our dogs and those of us who have had to pay considerable amounts and jump through hoops to do it legally.
My vets have recently seen puppies in from Eastern Europe with 2 microchips. I hope somehow the checks on entering the UK can be stepped up.