The Pets Travel Scheme (PETS), updated in July 2004, now allows dogs and cats to travel to Europe, the USA and Canada and return to the UK without the need for quarantine.

In order to obtain a passport for travel your pet will require injections (including a vaccination against rabies), a microchip, a blood test and approved documentation. It is also essential that the pet has specialise pet travel insurance in place should anything go wrong.
As a rule of thumb it is likely you will need to spend at least six months planning your trip.

For further information on the PETS scheme ask your vet, post office or visit the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).