Remember just over ten short years ago when the excitement of a forthcoming holiday was tarnished by the knowledge that your prized pet was set for a stretch in the kennels?

As soon as you got the suitcase out your dog’s behaviour would go awry. They’d know as much as you that they were heading for some time away from their beloved owner, just to avoid a spell in quarantine.

That all changed with the introduction of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The pet passport system celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 28th.

The passport system means that as long as your dog, cat or ferret has the correct pet cover against rabies you are free to take your animal to specified European Union (EU) countries and return them to the UK without the need for quarantine.

Once your dog, cat or ferret has had the correct vaccination against rabies all you need worry about is getting the right pet insurance and then you can let your beloved animal hop onboard the caravan.

So which countries can I take my pet to?
Thirty-nine different territories including popular destinations like France, Malta, Spain and the Canary Islands are covered by the scheme, but only when using approved sea, air and rail routes.

Owners are advised to check with their carrier ahead of time as even approved routes have a limit on the number of animals they are permitted to carry.

Any animals travelling from outside of the 39 territories specified by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), or having been outside the specified territories within the last six months, will have to be quarantined.

Has the scheme been successful?
The scheme has been successful, especially for UK pet owners. Sixty per cent of the animals travelling under PETS belong to UK owners, with 20 per cent coming from Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The scheme has not been associated with a single case of rabies as yet and has thus been deemed a success by Defra.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the animal welfare minister, said: “The Pet Travel Scheme was set up to enable British animal owners to enjoy travelling with their pets when they need to. The success of the scheme shows that responsible pet ownership makes a large contribution to managing disease risks effectively.”

But I don’t have a dog, cat or ferret. What about my rabbit?
Defra is currently carrying out a review of its policy on rabbits and rabies in the UK. Currently only the European species (oryctolagus cuniculus) of rabbits are allowed in the UK.

However, there are no rules preventing bringing rabbits into the UK that have been in any EU country, or rabbits that have been to Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican.

Rabbits that are coming from or have been taken to other countries will require a six-month quarantine period before being permitted to enter the UK.

And birds?
Rules governing other animals, such as birds, tropical fish and reptiles are not set by the EU commission and the animals must meet special requirements for import into the UK.

Animal Friends Pet Insurance, one of the largest independent pet insurers in the UK offers dog insurance and cat insurance to UK residents.

Graham Smith for Third Age.