Dogs Problems - How to Avoid Problems With Re-Entry

By Rosemary Taylor

I would like to make people aware of what can happen if they decide to return to their country of birth for whatever reason if they own a dog. For instance, have they gone through the correct procedures to enable them to take their dog back to the UK, or any other country that expects certain precautions regarding the dogs health to have been implemented before entry is allowed? Are they aware, for instance that before a pet passport can be issued, there is a set course of injections that will cover a period of up to seven months before the dog can travel back to the UK? After the initial Rabies injection a blood test will have to be taken a month later and then final vaccinations six months after the blood test. So, its evident that there is quite a bit of preparation needed well in advance of the return, otherwise it will place huge problems with delays to the schedule if the dog doesn't have his passport in time.

It is currently being reported by many of the Dog Rescue Organisations where I live in Spain, that they are sometimes overwhelmed with people wanting them to take their pet dog into care because they have not given their dogs welfare any priority in their moving plans. The dog's welfare has therefore has been placed at the very bottom of the list. The fact that one needs to plan seven months in advance is what has caught a lot of people out, quite simply because they were not aware of the procedure. The subsequent implications of not going through this procedure can be disastrous for the dog, because he is the one that will get left behind in one of the dog shelters, that's if he's lucky enough to get a place. It has often been the case that the dog will just been abandoned to his fate and forced to fend for himself, and we all know that a dog that was once a pet is not equipped to look after itself.

This is completely heartbreaking to the owner because in my opinion, the majority of dog owners love their pets dearly and would never intentionally do anything to harm them but certain events can sometimes take complete control. For example, losing their job or business, which then results in them being financially forced to return to their home county urgently, to seek work. I feel that this is probably the route cause of why people abandon their dogs and one that could have been avoided if they had been aware and planned for their pet to travel in the event of this possible scenario ever happening to them.

It's a truly terrible sight to see half starved and desperately skinny dogs wandering around looking for food and even worse searching for water when the heat is relentless. Its heart wrenching to know that the poor creature was probably once a family pet, well cared for and loved, and has now been left defenseless and unable to feed itself. If only people would just plan ahead when they first decide to move to the new country because it's a totally unacceptable option just to dump the dog when all that was needed was a little forethought.

Is this really a good way to treat the best friends we ever had?

If you would like to find out about a range of diseases that can attack your dog then you are welcome to my free information guide on Dogs Diseases. You can download on pdf at http://fincalinkup.com/dogsdisease.html If you would also like information, help and advise or indeed have any questions about living abroad then go to http://fincalinkup.com