Why paperwork matters so much
For rescue dogs travelling from Romania to Great Britain, documents are not a formality. They are part of the safety system that protects the dogs, adopters, rescues, and the public.
Before travel and entry, we ensure the required documents are correct. Checks include:
- microchip details
- rabies vaccination
- export health documentation
- importer details
- transport and destination details
- route and arrival planning
- required disease testing
- border notification requirements
We do not treat paperwork as admin afterthought. If documents are incomplete, inconsistent, expired, or not accepted, a dog may be delayed or unable to travel. That is why we prefer to pause before departure rather than risk a problem at the border.
UK import rules are strict. We do not move a dog until the required checks are complete — including the disease testing and import notifications required for commercial dog imports from Romania.
The specific requirements
Commercial dog imports from Romania to Great Britain — which includes rescue rehoming and transfer of ownership — must meet these rules (current at the time of writing):
- Brucella canis pre-import testing. An authorised veterinarian in Romania takes a blood sample and sends it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Great Britain. Both Brucella canis ELISA and Brucella canis SAT tests must be selected, and both must be negative. The dog must enter Great Britain no later than 30 calendar days from the date the sample was taken. GOV.UK source
- IPAFFS notification in advance. Every commercial consignment must be pre-notified on IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) before arrival. Notification and document upload timing depend on the import route and importer status. GOV.UK source
- Transporter authorisation. Journeys over 8 hours require a Type 2 (long journey) transporter authorisation, issued by the APHA Welfare in Transport team. GOV.UK source
These rules can change. We track updates from APHA and GOV.UK, and we pause a journey before departure if a check cannot be completed on time.
Our transporter authorisation
The vans that carry your dog are operated by Angels Rescue SRL, our partner transporter, under a UK Type 2 long journey authorisation issued by the APHA Welfare in Transport team.
- Authorisation number
- UK/STAFF/T2/00115937
- Authorisation type
- Type 2 — long journeys over 8 hours
- Vehicle
- Volkswagen Crafter · B618 CRY · dogs and cats
- Vehicle certificate
- 34059184
- Floor area
- 7.5 m²
- Approved for journeys over 12h in the UK
- Yes
- Valid until
- 10 February 2031
Type 2 authorisation requires a written contingency plan, and every journey is logged in an Animal Transport Certificate or equivalent record, retained for at least six months.
Border timing and delays
Border checks can be affected by:
- traffic
- crossing availability
- official inspection timing
- document review
- system delays
- weather
- route changes
- welfare needs on board
We will always aim to keep you updated, but we will not pressure the team to prioritise a tidy ETA over safe handling, legal checks, or animal welfare.
A delay is frustrating. We understand that. But a safe delay is better than a rushed mistake.
Updates, tracking and ETA
Once the journey is underway, we provide progress updates so you are not left wondering where your dog is. Updates may include:
- journey progress
- welfare stop notes
- photos where safe and appropriate
- ETA changes
- border or crossing updates
- final UK delivery window
- arrival coordination
We aim to update you clearly without distracting the team from driving, checks, and dog care.
About your ETA
Your ETA can change. This is normal. Road conditions, ferry or tunnel timing, official checks, weather, dog welfare, UK delivery order and access issues at previous stops can all shift the clock. We give you the best available arrival window and refine it as the van gets closer.
Please treat the ETA as a live estimate, not a fixed appointment time.
About tracking links
If you receive a tracking link, please treat it as private. It may include journey information intended only for the adopter, rescue, and ADOPTR team. Please do not post tracking links publicly.
Arrival at your home
Arrival is emotional. You may have waited months for this moment. But for your dog, it may be confusing: new smells, new voices, new home, new people, after a long journey.
The best arrival is calm, slow, and boring.
Before we arrive
- Keep your phone nearby.
- Make sure the entrance is clear.
- Keep other pets away from the door.
- Keep children calm and supervised.
- Close garden gates and external doors.
- Remove hazards from the entry area.
- Prepare a quiet room or resting area.
- Have water ready.
At handover
- Let the driver guide the pace.
- Avoid crowding the van.
- Avoid loud greetings.
- Do not allow off-lead movement outside.
- Use a secure collar, harness and lead.
- Keep the first few minutes calm.
- Ask any urgent questions before the driver leaves.
The first objective is simple: get your dog safely from the van into your home. Everything else can wait.
If plans change
We plan each journey carefully, but live transport can change. Plans may shift because of:
- weather
- traffic
- crossing delays
- official checks
- vehicle issues
- access problems
- dog welfare needs
- emergency veterinary concerns
If something significant changes, we update the rescue and/or adopter as appropriate.
Our decision-making priority:
- dog welfare
- legal compliance
- safety of the team
- safe delivery
- timing
That order matters. We will never put timing above welfare.
Veterinary concerns during travel
If a dog appears unwell or injured during the journey, the team will assess the situation and contact the appropriate parties. Depending on the situation, this may involve extra monitoring, route adjustment, contacting the rescue and adopter, seeking veterinary advice, attending a vet if necessary, or pausing or changing the journey plan.
In an emergency, the team must act in the dog’s best interests.