Be sure which EU country you want to bring Fido to. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and Britain require extra preparations for entry of domestic animals into their territories. However, MEPs are hoping these exceptions will end by 2011.

Pets abroad

Diggle wakes up to another morning   far from his owners.

They moved to England,   but couldn't take Diggle with them.

Diggle stays with Mijntje   and can't wait to see them again.

Since my brother's dog is up to date   with all its vaccinations

But three days before they left, he was   told that the dog needed a blood test

that should have been taken six   months before entry to the UK.

Diggle would have been able to move with   his owners to most EU countries.

But before travelling to the UK,   like Finland, Ireland, Malta and Sweden

you should check each   country's rules with your vet.

The general regime throughout the EU   has improved rabies greatly.

But to improve things further it was   decided that certain Member States

that have no rabies at all could apply   additional and stricter measures.

Diggle and his fellow dogs,   cats and ferrets

hope that soon they too can travel   around Europe hassle free

as the twice-postponed deadline for these   exceptions should end in 2011.

This date should signal the end of   a European vaccination programme.

So pets should face less risk of catching   rabies in their countries.

This financed vaccination programme   should be completed by December 2011

by which date this threat   will be eradicated.

The view is that   this extension is the final one.

Then Diggle and his furry friends   will be treated equally throughout Europe.

Unlike humans who still   do not have a standardised EU passport.