Taking your pet back to the UK
April 26th, 2008 - Chris MarshallHere is some advice from Emma for anybody looking to take a pet back to the UK:
Recently having decided to return to the UK, one of the things that we were faced with was how best to deal with our small dog who we adopted here in Spain shortly after we arrived four and a half years ago.
Basically in order to get your pet’s passport, the dog has to have a blood test to screen for rabies antibodies. The results of which take 4 months to come back and provided the results are favourable the animal can enter the UK without the need for quarantine, 6 months from the date of the blood test. This blood test although a bit traumatic for the dog, costs just 70€ and once it has been done and the 6 months is up, provided of course that the results are favourable, your pet is free to travel back and forth provided they continue to have their regular rabies inoculations.
If however you end up needing to travel back to the UK before the end of the six months it can prove very expensive. It can cost around £250 per month to keep a dog in quarantine in the UK plus there is a fee for transporting your pet from the airport or sea port to the quarantine kennels which can also run into the hundreds.
You could decide to leave your dog in kennels here for the 6 months and then transport him back. However flights for pets can also be very expensive. To fly just a dog back from Malaga to Manchester at the end of the 6 month period, we were quoted £500 no less! Needless to say it works out much cheaper to drive and take them on the ferry but if you do that then bear in mind that you then have the hassle of driving all the way over to Spain and back again just to collect your beloved pet!
Advice to those with a pet here, that haven’t already done so, if you think there is even the remotest chance that you will want or need to take them back to the UK at some point, then get the passport thing done now, it could save you a lot of money.
About Almerimar
Almerimar is located in the region of Andalucia, Spain. The nearest airport is 30km away in Almeria. Other airports that are within 3 hours include Malaga, Murcia, Granada, and Alicanti. Other holiday resorts in the region include Mojacar , Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar
Almerimar is a great place to live as an expat amongst the expats, or to work amongst the Spanish. There are all kinds of properties including villas, apartments and town houses for rent or sale. It is a very traditional part of Spain, with traditional Spanish foods so if you plan to travel to Spain either to look for jobs, for your company to trade with companies in Spain, or to learn Spanish and enjoy the Spanish weather then come and take a look.
If you are interested in purchasing a property in Almerimar please visit our sponsors Mirror of the Sun or Mediterraspain. If you have purchased a property and need it furnished please check out our Sponsors DBJ who will give you a Exclusive 5% discount with the code AL2008.
If you want to learn Spanish, get help with anything to do with the legal issues in Spain, or want WiFi access in the marina please check out our sponsor CentrePoint who will give you a 10% discount off all services with the code AL2008.
If you want an amazing activity based day out in the mountains and to learn how to ride a motorcycle off road then check out our sponsor The Long Way Round and get 5% off with the code AL2008.
Almerimar is also one of the largest marinas in Spain with over 2,000 births and excellent boatyard facilities.
