Experts have warned that the United Kingdom is at risk for a rabies outbreak due to the illegal importation of infected dogs.
Veterinarians have sounded the alarm about the’very real’ threat, prompting government authorities to explore tightening regulations on importing animals from the EU.
The primary issue is dogs trafficked into EU countries from Serbia, where rabies is still widespread, and then given legal pet travel credentials that allow them to enter the United Kingdom while concealing their true origins.
The statement follows frequent concerns concerning the health of smuggled animals from animal welfare organizations.
Helen Roberts, chief of non-livestock disease policy at the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, recently discussed the rabies threat at a veterinary conference. According to the website Vet Record, she stated that Defra is examining the possibility of testing every dog entering the country for the disease.
She stated, “It’s the commercial dogs, the strays, the ones that are picked up and sold on various websites like “This is adorable little Bobby, wouldn’t you like to adopt him?” These individuals cause us concern because we do not know their past.’
Her words are in response to a warning from a Serbian police source that thousands of canines being trafficking into the EU annually.
Under current regulations, dogs entering the United Kingdom with an EU pet passport must be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to entry. However, a blood test is not required.
Dogs from “unlisted” countries with a high risk of rabies, such as Serbia, should receive both a vaccination and a test, as vaccination does not always prevent the development of the disease. Traffickers who exploit the gap to avoid the blood test risk importing rabid dogs into the United Kingdom without detection.
Paula Boyden, the Dogs Trust’s veterinary director, stated, “We are aware of unlawfully imported dogs from Serbia.” Anecdotally, it appears that business is booming. It is quite alarming. I would like to see increased dog control between non-EU and EU nations.
The British Veterinary Association is requesting that all dogs entering the United Kingdom undergo a blood test 30 days after vaccination and that the waiting period for travel be extended from 21 to 12 weeks.
Since 1922, the United Kingdom has been free of rabies. Last night, Defra denied there were any plans to establish mandatory testing for all canines entering the country.