All pets arriving at London Gatwick Airport from outside the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland) will proceed to the Animal Aircare pet reception centre. The Gatwick Airport pet reception centre carries out DEFRA checks on pets and their paperwork, upon arrival in the UK. Pets travelling on inbound and outbound journeys, as well as those in transit for an onward departure will visit the Animal Aircare facility. Your pet will be provided with water, and dogs will be exercised to allow them to stretch their legs. There’s no pet relief area inside Gatwick Airport for dog’s to have a bathroom break. You can leave a review to let other pet travellers know what you think if your pet has visited the London Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre.
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Standards & Service at the London Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre
Your pet will be collected by a member of the Animal Aircare staff upon arrival at Gatwick Airport. You must attach to your pet’s kennel all of the original paperwork required for your pet to travel. Be sure to have the documentation needed to take you cat, dog or ferret to England.
At the London Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre, your pet will be in a temperature controlled, safe and highly secure environment. Facilities include:
- spacious dog kennels
- catteries
- fresh bedding for dogs and cats
- isolation rooms for birds and reptiles
- toilet areas
- pet kitchens.
Furthermore, the accommodation comprises individual, quiet, and temperature controlled housing pens which fully provide for the needs of all visiting animals. Trained Animal Welfare Officers will also ensure your pet has access to drinking water, and dogs will be exercised.
Clearing your pet to enter the UK
The prompt clearance of your pet at the Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre is reliant on you sending them copies of all the required paperwork in advance. This includes photocopies of the:
- Pet Passport or Health Certificate
- Vet Record
- Instruction Forms completed for clearance
Collecting your pet from Animal Aircare
Once you collect your luggage, you should make your way to the Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre to collect your cat, dog or other animal. The address is:
ANIMAL AIRCARE COMPANY LIMITED
Animal Reception Centre
Unit 6 Cargo Forecourt Road
Gatwick Airport
West Sussex
RH6 0SQ
Assistance & Service Dogs arriving at Gatwick Airport
Only professionally trained and registered Assistance & Service Dogs can enter the UK in the cabin of a commercial flight. As Emotional Support Animals are not professionally trained, they must travel to the UK in the hold. Psychiatric Service Dogs that have been trained and certified, and that hold the necessary paperwork, can fly in the cabin with you.
If you’re flying to London Gatwick Airport with an Assistance or Service Dog in the cabin, the Animal Aircare team must receive all of the necessary paperwork in advance. Once they’re content with your paperwork and have everything required, they’ll send you confirmation.
Prior to departure, and also at check in, your airline will want to see the confirmation from London Gatwick Airport to allow your Assistance or Service Dog to fly in the cabin with you.
Upon arrival in London, a member of the Animal Aircare team will be waiting to greet you when the aircraft doors open. They’ll then scan your dog’s microchip and verify your original paperwork. Once the checks are complete, you’ll be given written verification to provide to immigration as you pass through Gatwick Airport. You’ll only be able to pass through immigration with your Assistance or Service Dog if you have written confirmation from Animal Aircare.
Pet Relief Area at Gatwick
Like most airports in the UK, Gatwick doesn’t have a designated pet relief area for dogs to have a toilet break inside the terminal building. If you’re arriving at Gatwick with a Service or Assistance Dog, your dog will be able to have a bathroom break once you leave the building. Although don’t panic if they can’t hold it, just make sure you have some poop bags and cleaning wipes!
Remember to always protect your pet against vector-borne diseases when travelling to a foreign destination, and leave a review if your pet has stayed at the London Gatwick Airport Pet Reception Centre!
