The City of London provides an agency service
for other London authorities in respect of animal health and
welfare matters.
Officers carry out inspections of pet shops, zoos, dog breeding
and and riding establishments, and offer advice on the keeping of
dangerous wild animals. They also deal with complaints from the
public and welfare matters involving circuses, animal shows, studio
work with animals and other cases where animals are used to
perform. Email
us or tel 020 8897 6741.
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC)
Formerly known as the Animal Quarantine Station, HARC has
established itself as a world leader in the care of animals during
transport. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it receives and
cares for over 650,000 animals of all types - from cats and dogs to
baby elephants, horses, reptiles and spiders.
These animals arrive at Heathrow from all over the world, and
HARC's main duty is to enforce the statutory requirements of UK and
EU legislation with regard to importation of animals and their
transport by air. This legislation incorporates Rabies Control and
the Welfare of Animals during transport.
Email us
or tel 020 8745 7894 / 5. (24 hrs).
More detailed information can be found on the
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre's web page.
Rabies protection
As a lead authority working with 23 other London boroughs, the
City of London provides a rabies contingency plan to deal with a
rabies outbreak should it occur. Tel 020 7332 3405.
More information about rabies protection can be found in the Port
Health section.
Veterinary services
The City of London's Veterinary Officer undertakes the duties of
Portal Official Veterinary Surgeon at the ports to the east of
London within the Port Health Authority area. This involves the
inspection of meat and meat products imported through the ports.
Tel 020 7332 3405.
Other useful information can be obtained from The Department for
Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Government
Department that overseas all animal welfare matters in the UK. The
DEFRA
website has information on a wide variety of animal welfare
issues including animal and public health aspects of imports and
exports of live animals.