31/07/2025
Dear Clients and Friends,
We are writing to inform you of an important change currently being proposed by the UK Government that may significantly affect the way we are able to operate as licensed pet transporters between the UK and Europe.
As part of a new Animal Welfare Bill currently passing through the House of Lords, the government is seeking to limit the number of animals that can enter or leave the UK in a single vehicle under the category of personal pet movement to a maximum of five animals per vehicle.
This limit would apply regardless of the number of licensed individuals in the vehicle and would include both directions of travel – into and out of the UK.
⏳ Timeframes
This rule is not yet final, but it is progressing quickly through Parliament, with implementation possible in 1st / 2nd Qtr of 2026 if passed. There is still a limited window of opportunity to lobby for amendments to the Bill.
🐾 What This Means for You
If this rule is adopted without exemption for licensed transporters:
We would be restricted to transporting a maximum of five pets per vehicle, regardless of how many handlers are onboard or the size/capacity of the vehicle.
This would significantly reduce the number of pets we are able to carry per journey.
💷 Impact on Prices
With fewer animals allowed per trip, the cost of travel per animal will inevitably rise. This is not a change we want to make, but one that would become necessary in order to cover operational costs — including ferries, fuel, tolls, accommodation, and staff.
🐶 Impact on Animal Welfare
We are deeply concerned that this change will unintentionally:
Push more pet owners into using unlicensed or informal transporters.
Increase stress on pet owners and their animals.
Reduce availability of safe, regulated, welfare-first transport options.
Force legitimate companies to make hard choices about their operations.
🤝 What Happens Next
At this stage, we want to keep you fully informed. Over the next few days, we will be reaching out again with information on how you — our clients and supporters — can help us lobby for a fairer solution.
We strongly believe there should be a clear distinction between licensed transporters acting on behalf of pet owners, and commercial movements involving sales or rehoming. Licensed professionals operating with proper documentation, training, and welfare standards should not be treated the same as those importing for commercial reasons.
We hope this gives you clarity and early warning of the changes we are facing. We are incredibly grateful for your support and loyalty to our businesses, and we will continue to do everything we can to safeguard the well-being of the animals in our care — and to ensure you can move your pets safely between countries in the future.
With sincere thanks,Julie and the Happytrailz team
