By Verite Reily Collins    You’ve had a wonderful holiday with your dog.  Now it’s time to return home. BUT FIRST you must find a Vet to give Fido the obligatory examination for ‘ticks and bugs: Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworms. This has to be done 24 - 48 hours before you arrive back in the UK - which means finding a Vet where you are staying, or on your way home. Bayer, the drugs company, say MAFF ask for this examination as pets must be treated with Praziquantal against the Fox tapeworm: apparently we don’t have this in Britain. Usual treatment is with DRONTAL, which contains this ingredient, and most Vets abroad will be able to supply this.  One final step - pet owners will have to complete a Declaration of Residence, available at the PETS check-in lane at French Customs. This declares that you have not taken the animal outside any of the PET scheme countries, unless it has been in quarantine for the legal period of time since returning.		Belgium France Germany Italy Netherlands Spain Switzerland

If you are staying in a hotel there shouldn’t be any problem finding a Vet: Hall Porters or Receptionists will be able to find an English speaking one locally.

If you have the address of a Vet abroad, International Directory Enquiries (dial 153) will be able to find the phone number, but be warned - calls to Enquiries cost over £1 per minute.

Or you might like to stay at the Copthorne Hotel in Calais on your way home, and let the hotel make an appointment with the local Vets who know all about the treatment. Not only will you arrive home rested and relaxed, instead of having driven home without a break, but as a souvenir your dog will be given a Doggy Bag. (0800 25 28 40). Visit the Vet on arrival, and go shopping the next day whilst you wait until the 24 hours are up.

If you can’t wait - Petplanet have prepared a list of Vets easily reached from the popular return routes. Most have someone who speaks English - although we can’t guarantee that this person will be on duty. Most insist on an appointment, although some Clinics have a ‘walk-in’ service. And DON’T forget the important piece of paper to prove your pet has had the treatment - you will need to show this at Immigration when you arrive back in Britain.

	Belgium
	Any Vet. will be able to treat your animal. Ask at a Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall or Police Station, and they will be able to direct you to an English-speaking Vet.

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	France
	Town Vet      Telephone Number La Turballe Dr. Aguilar-Bosche 00 33 240234617 Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne Dr. Lenoir 00 33 474550057 St. Genis-Pouilly Dr. Radiguet 00 33 450421234 Villefranche sur Mer Dr. El-baz 00 33 493017422 Bergerac Dr. Carrad 00 33 553744390 Louviers Dr. Larson 00 33 232400334 Uzes Dr. Jacquemart 00 33 466221065 Villefrabche de Lauragais Dr. Jubenot 00 33 561816401 Montpellier Dr. Leplat 00 33 467273732 Reze Dr. Nouhin  00 33 240323854 Prayssac Dr. Untz 00 33 565224646 Montebourg Dr. Bastin 00 33 233211114 Corbigny Dr. Vignault 00 33 386200163 Hellemmes Dr. Nowak 00 33 320567419 Calais Dr. Alcouffe 00 33 321821511 Randon Dr. Hodencq 00 33 470415142 Pau Dr. Barande 00 33 559301156 Selestat Dr. Guth 00 33 388828687 Kientzheim Dr. Ortet 00 33 389782379 Paris Dr. Gittins 00 33 140590476 Neuchatel-en-Braye Dr. Savalle 00 33 232970147 St. Aubin sur Scie Dr. Lamaiziere 00 33 235842735 Ouville la Riviere Dr. Zachee 00 33 235830210 St. Germain en Laye Dr. Lazard 00 33 134513133 L'isle sur la Sorgue Dr. Silovy 00 33 490381188 Mandelieu la Napoule Dr. Begue et Combe 00 33 493492849 Mandelieu la Napoule Dr. Faure et Pepin 00 33 493493619 Mandelieu la Napoule Dr. Texier 00 33 493497850 Rouen Dr Fabienne Ringot 00 33 235981745 Gournay en Bray/La Feuillie Dr Remy José 00 33 235900309 Loire Valley Dr J-J Menard 00 33 254337818

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	Germany
	Most Vets will have some knowledge of English because that is the International 'Vets' language. Any Vet can give you the Certificate - look up in Yellow Pages under 'Tierarzt'. Currently the site www.tieraerzte.org is being set up, but in the meantime the Association of Veterinary Surgeons can be contacted at following numbers (dial 00 49 for Germany, and leave out first 0 if phoning from UK): Berlin 0 30/3 12 18 75 Bremen 04 21/3 61 61 29 Frankfurt 03 35/5 21 77 50 Hamburg 0 40/4 39 16 23 Hannover 05 11/55 50 91 Kempen 0 21 52/2 05 58-0 Munchen (Munich) 089/21 99 08 -0 Munster 02 51/5 35 94-0 Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz) 0 26 51/1- 04 Stuttgart 07 11/7 22 86 32 - 0 Or there is my favourite German Vet, Diana Tillner of Wedemark, near Hannover (00 49 5130 7550). She is a breeder and member of the Southern Border Terrier Club, and often to be seen in Britain.

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	Italy
	dial 00 39 and from UK you leave in next 0 Bologna Danny Laino 051 466 503 Firenze (Florence) Ambulatori Veterinario Fiesole 055 598 660 Animal Protection Society 055 213 296 Clinica Europa 055 684 360 Firenze Radda in Chianti Nora Kravis 0577 738 080 Genova (Genoa) Paolo Pigne 010 593 949 Milano (Milan) E. Croce 02 836 0761 R. Rosenthal 02 469 0250

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	Netherlands
	The Netherlands Veterinary authorities were most indignant when we asked for a list of English-speaking vets: 'every Vet speaks English', but you must make an apointment. They have planned extensively and efficiently to ensure the paperwork they produce is what MAFF requires, and in a country whose Queen owns Border Terriers that came from Britain, this must be one of the most dog-friendly countries. Look in the Yellow pages (in every public phone box) under Dierenartsen for local Vets.From a private phone dial 098008 for Directory Enquiries (don't ask - everyone speaks superb English) or look for the VVV (Tourist Information) signs. The British Embassy has helpful information on their web-site: www.britain.nl. Or you could try Scoot's site (in Dutch, but easy to understand): www.scoot.nl - type in the place name and Dierenartsen.

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	Spain
	Travelling home from Spain, because of timing you will probably need to have your pet looked at in France. However, if you are doing a mad dash and need a Vet in Spain, every area has its own Veterinary Organisation, so go to the local Town Hall where there is generally one official who speaks fluent English and liaises with the British community, and ask them. Alternatively you can contact the Colegio Official de Veterinarios (Spanish Association of Veterinarians) Tel: 00 34 91 575 34 89. However, Vets say a long journey is just as stressful for your pet as for you.

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	Switzerland
	Again most Vets speak English, and can be contacted via your hotel, campside, local Tourist Information Office, Town Hall or Police Station - or contact Bundesamt fuer Veterinaerwesen (Federal Veterinary Dept) 00 41 - 31 323 85 02.

And when you return, don't forget to let Passports for Pets know how you got on.

P.S. MAFF might have given you the greatest chat-up line in history. Imagine the possibilities - you see that gorgeous creature walking their dog. What better introduction could there be than "can you show me the way to the nearest Vet?"