Chief vet reminds rescue charities to follow documentation requirements
"Animals without the correct vaccinations pose a real disease threat" - Christine Middlemiss, CVO.
The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer is reminding animal rehoming charities to ensure that rescued animals entering the country have the necessary vaccination paperwork.
The reminder comes after an illegal movement of Ukrainian dogs was discovered by APHA, risking the UK's rabies-free status, after it was discovered that a shipment of 19 animals imported by a rescue charity travelled on falsified rabies documentation.
Local authorities and APHA are now tracing the animals, after they were fostered and rehomed by UK residents, and the animals will be placed in quarantine while a decision is made on the risk level.
Christine Middlemiss, the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, said: “Checks have confirmed that these animals did not receive the necessary blood tests to enter the UK.
“We are taking quick action to limit the risk of disease spreading by quarantining all animals involved in this case until further notice. We are grateful for the cooperation of the households involved and would encourage the public to contact us with any information they may have.
“Animals without the correct vaccinations pose a real disease threat to both our own beloved animals and to people whilst also impacting the rabies-free status we have held for many years.”
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
