Kennel Club supports inquiry into Brexit impact on animal welfare

The Kennel Club has welcomed news of an inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee into how new Brexit regulations will impact on animal welfare, disease control and the industry interests.

The organisation has raised concerns about the last minute backtrack on pet travel rules between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain, due to the negative impact barriers will have on pets and their owners.

Dogs, cats and ferrets now need a health certificate and rabies inoculation to travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland as of 1 January, which usually costs in excess of £100 per issue and required for each journey between the two countries.

Ed Hayes, policy and public affairs manager at The Kennel Club, said: “During the EFRA Select Committee hearing in November, the government gave assurance that there would be no difference in paperwork for pet owners wishing to travel between Somerset and Northern Ireland than if they were to travel from Somerset to Scotland or Wales.

“Unfortunately, it is now clear that this is not the case.”

He added: “These requirements mean that anyone travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland with their pets – whether holidaying or re-locating – must now comply with financially burdensome, inconvenient and simply bureaucratic new rules, organising complex paperwork and more trips to the vet.

“There is also a potential consequence of pets being over-medicated unnecessarily.”