04/12/2025
🐾 UPDATE ON THE NEW UK PET TRAVEL LAW – WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU (FOR NOW!) 🇬🇧✈️
Hi everyone,
A quick update on the new Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats & Ferrets) Act 2025, which has now officially become UK law as of 2nd December 2025
The good news: there are NO immediate changes to how we transport your pets.
Here’s why:
🔍 So what’s actually happened?
The law has passed, but the government still needs to publish the secondary regulations – these are the detailed rules that explain:
How the new system will work
When it starts
What paperwork is needed
Any exemptions
How it affects pet transporters like us
At the moment, none of that guidance has been released by DEFRA or APHA.
So right now, the Act exists… but the rules we all have to follow haven’t been written yet.
🐶🐱 What does this mean for our clients?
✔️ We continue operating as normal
✔️ All current pet-travel rules still apply
✔️ No new limits or procedures have been introduced yet
✔️ We will update you the moment official guidance is released
⏳ When will the new rules start?
There’s no official timeline yet.
DEFRA has simply said they will now “begin work on implementation.”
This could take weeks or months — we’ll keep you updated as soon as the government publishes anything concrete.
🐾 In short: nothing changes for your pet’s travel right now.
We’re monitoring everything daily so you don’t have to.
As soon as DEFRA/APHA release clear instructions, we’ll post a full breakdown in plain English.
Your pets’ safety and comfort remain our top priority. 💛
Thank you for trusting Golden Paws 🐾
Andy & Nikki😘
