There was an article in today's Tallahassee (Florida) Democrat that Britain
is lifting its 6 month quarantine on animals coming into the country.
Owners will be able to bring pets in from 22 West European countries.  It
will likely be extended to the US, Canada, and the Caribbean in 2001.
 
Certain paperwork will be required but nothing out of the ordinary.  The
animal will also have to be microchipped to verify its identity.
 
There has been a long campaign to lift the quarantine, but, all of this
finally happened because a 15 year old boy had to go to France for a kidney
transplant and cancer treatment, taking his dog with him.  When the time
came to return to England, he wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair and asked
him to change the law because he was worried he might die while his dog was
quarantined, and that his dog also might die while in quarantine.  This
letter got the wheels rolling.
 
Amazing what one person can do!
 
Katharine
 
[Moderator's note: The biggest obstacle, if I understand the proposed
regulations, is that your visit must be long term.  You will not be able
to take your animals on a short-term holiday -- you have to be able to
show you will remain in the area for several months.  Still, the news
is most welcome, of course.   BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2765]