European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine regardless of country of origin eats and dogs entering Britain must be quarantined Tor six months. Pet prison preventing importation of rabies in Britain by gotten Timberlake associated press saturday is the big visiting Day at Ching lord. England. Dozens of visitors mostly foreigners make is one hour trip from Central London to visit their loved ones. Whipped by bitter cold wind they troop past the heavy wire Gale thai seals Oil this Bleak place and pass through three secured doors signing in along the Way. Once locked inside an individual or Many collapse into frantic kissing Pelling and scratching for the 1 maximum iwo hour slay this is be prison. And in causes Ever the hardiest pet owners to Blither nicknames and endearments to their cherished pets. It can be embarrassing. But then these Are desperate people. Dogs and cats Are Tnp toned Here not or committing beastly acts hut to prevent the importation of rabies they serve a minimum sentence of six months a maximum sentence of death. Britain it Rabid about keeping rabies out. So fanatical that some britons oppose the construction of an English Channel Tunnel on the grounds thai Rabid animals might Scurry i rough since 1903. Cats and dogs immigrating to the United kingdom regardless of their country of origin have been required to be quarantined Lor six months at government approved kennels of which there Are 68 1 rabies is a Maltor of concern throughout Europe it s been spreading northwards and getting nearer and nearer said Donald Thompson parliamentary Secretary for the ministry of agriculture fisheries ant food la o More irreversible than aids and it s a death worse than aids said Thompson comparing rabies to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. We re simply not prepared to take Ito risk for rabies Lobo imported in this country nol just or human beings but also for animals " the policy applies even to seeing Eye dogs and to British dogs that have been sent abroad such As those who help find earthquake survivors we re strict with our own Thompson said. I about 4,500 dogs and 2,500 cats All of whom also must be vaccinated against rabies Are brought Inlo he United k kingdom every year the ministry said. Of those about 40 dogs and 70 cats die during their quarantine from old age illness or possibly neglect. The government does t have a breakdown because in tests dead pets Only for rabies. There s no getting around the Law unless you re wealthy enough to do As actress Elizabeth Taylor did. In 1968, she rented a yacht and turned in into a personal quarantine Kennel on the thames River. Smuggling is not really an option either. The penalty is up to a year in prison and an unlimited Fine. People in England Are aware of quarantine. Anybody will urn in anybody if they find they Are Ihre Lening the Barrier we be got said Alan Peake manager of the Chingford Kennel the quarantine policy seems to work since a rabies outbreak in the 1920s, Only 30 animals Are known to have died of rabies in Brilain the last one in 1983. Legally importing a pet is expensive. Air fare a License vaccinations Kennel charges and incidentals can Cost thousands of dollars. Transiel ltd., which operates the Ching Ord Kennel and one other charges 2 20 pounds about s3.so a Day Lor one Cal plus 10 Pence 64 cents daily for heal during Tho Winter. Michelle abru2zi, a 34-year-old american said she was willing to pay the Price Lor kit Herb year old Cal i m very attached to my cat he s been quite a Good pal to me uhe said adding that she had no Choice no one else wan led my Cal. He s nol Young or super cute or valuable they re hard of to give away she said kit gets sprung at the end of May Peake the Kennel manager said most people visit saturdays because of pressures of work during the week Tho animus seem to know. They re a Little hit More excited on saturdays Don t ask me How they know perhaps inc caretakers give them an extra clean and lid some pet owners bring special treats foods and Favole toys and stay to Brush their pets others saunter in nonchalantly and slay 15 minutes. Seventy five percent Etsil. Some people think it s not a Good idea. We generally encourage visiting. Not for the animals. Ii makes it a Little easier on the people peace said. While most of the pets come from the United slates and Australia others come from Riyadh. Tokyo and Kuala Bumpur Peake said. John Broom a caretaker in one cell Block does his Bosi to reassure and Comfort Pel owners they re belter now that they be seen you says Broom who is affectionate to his charges. On visiting Day the caretakers Clad in Royal Blue jumpsuits keep track of visitors on a blackboard when time is up. It s Jet mildly up and the Pel owners trudge Oil some of them looking depressed most of them covered with Pel hair. Well said one american in an Effort to console fits wife. We re almost hallway through visiting Day brings out dozens of pet owners to Britain s government approved quarantine kennels. Monday May 25. 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 13