We see many, many petitions for wonderful causes where we believe that by signing a petition it will make a difference and force action to correct a wrong. These are normally for cruelty, unjust behaviour and unfairness in some way or form that does harm to another, whether man or animal. This petition is asking you to make the lives of our pets easier when they enter the UK from abroad. It may seem trivial to you but for many it will be an emotional relief to know that our pets can travel into the UK, as allowed by the British authorities, in a manner that does not endanger their lives and the trauma caused by traveling cargo. PLEASE READ ON AND LET ME HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, THANKYOU….

We all love to hear about progress and expansion and how our lives are made easier when we travel to and from the UK by air, sea and rail. However, as a pet loving and friendly nation, has anyone realised that it is practically impossible to bring a small pet into the UK via air, sea or rail!

I prefaced my comments when I mention small pets. Did you know that nearly all around the world a pet owner can board a plane, boat or train and travel with their pet across borders. Small pets, classified as being less than 5kgs, including their transportation kennel, can travel as hand luggage in the cabin. This is because, as you can imagine a small animal cannot be put through the trauma of traveling as unaccompanied baggage in the hold of an aircraft. Even on cross channel ferries, pets are not allowed unless you have a car and the pet is kept in the car for the entire crossing! Trains also, such as the Eurostar do not have the facility to allow pets to travel with passengers into the UK! And all this from a pet loving nation!

Traveling to the USA with our pet from Europe is great! We board the plane anywhere in Europe with our pet in his carry-bag and on arrival in the USA we declare him at customs where the department of agriculture representative, checks his papers, simple and very pet friendly! Thank you USA! Why is it so difficult for the UK to adopt such a system?

DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) in the UK have removed the requirement for all animals to land as manifested freight (in the cargo hold!). However, airlines must have their 'Required Method of Operation' (RMOP) approved by DEFRA and as yet; none have chosen to present their amended RMOP's for approval. Pets would still need to be collected by the Animal Reception Centres directly from the aircraft and have their microchips and paperwork verified, in accordance with domestic legislation. Airlines are also legally obliged to give the centre 24 hours pre advice of arriving animals. Airlines may have difficulty in complying with these requirements when flying pets as baggage and certainly in the cabin, but much work has been done by The Animal Reception Centres, DEFRA and BAA (British Airports Authorities) to remove unnecessary obstacles.

The Animal Reception Centre of Heathrow Airport expect RMOP's for baggage pets to be presented by some airlines, but it is really now down to passenger demand influencing changes to airline procedures. THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO SHOW ME AND YOUR FELLOW PET LOVERS YOUR SUPPORT BY CREATING THE DEMAND AND ALLOWING OUR PETS TO TRAVEL AS CABIN BAGGAGE!

I have written to BA, Lufthansa, Swiss, and Aegean Air to understand their implementation plans and I am waiting pensively for their reply. I have also contacted Eurostar and the ferry companies that operate cross-channel links to the UK and have drawn a blank. The standard response is that they have no plans to all pets as hand luggage on any of the trains or ferries!

It is through desperation that I ask you to SIGN THIS PETITION and support pet lovers around the world to be able to travel with their pets in to the UK, as they can throughout the world! Progress is great and I thank DEFRA for changing the rules, but now it is up to the airline, train and ferry operators to step up and change their Required Method of Operation to allow pets to be brought into the UK as hand baggage in the cabin.