Pet Setters

Pet Setters: health certificates for pets travelling abroad

Pet Setters is a UK veterinary company dedicated to issuing Animal Health Certificates (AHCs), the mandatory document for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel from the UK to European Union countries or Northern Ireland. The firm works with Official Veterinarians (OVs) and its own support staff.

What an AHC is and when it is needed

The Animal Health Certificate was introduced in early 2021, shortly after Brexit. It must be issued by an Official Veterinarian no more than ten days before the travel date. A single certificate can cover up to five pets, provided they are not travelling for commercial reasons.

To be able to issue it, the pet must meet a series of requirements: be microchipped before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination, have been vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before the certificate is issued, and have copies of the vaccination record. The company invites you to start the application by answering a series of questions to check whether the pet meets the criteria.

The team and the origin of the project

Pet Setters was founded in 2022 by three veterinary professionals who met while working at a veterinary hospital. In addition to their full-time clinical work, they completed the additional training required to practise as Official Veterinarians, which enables them to issue AHCs. The company emerged in response to the increase in pet travel to Europe after the pandemic. It operates from its members' homes and offers a service that the firm itself describes as affordable and convenient for owners and their travelling pets.

Five-step application process

The procedure described by the company consists of five stages:

• Initial application: the owner answers basic questions about their pets; if they are eligible, they provide personal details and information about the animals.
• Document submission: the team contacts you by email to request a copy of the vaccination certificates and any additional information required.
• Payment: once eligibility is confirmed and the documentation received, payment is requested in accordance with the prices and accepted methods.
• Pet verification: an appointment is arranged to check the microchip and see the original vaccination certificates. The owner can go to one of the locations or request a home visit, the latter with a surcharge.
• Certificate issued: after verifying the microchip and the documentation, the certificate is issued immediately.

Locations and coverage

The company operates from several locations in the UK: Lewisham, Stockwell and Crystal Palace, in London, and Brislington, in Bristol. It also offers delivery in the service areas near these locations.

Contact and response

For enquiries or comments, the company provides a message form and a phone number. Its stated commitment is to respond to received requests as soon as possible.