The City of London runs the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC Heathrow) to carry out its main statutory responsibilities under the Animal Health Act, 1981, this legislation incorporates Rabies controls and the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1997. The City of London also has responsibilities for other UK animal related legislation. The City of London also administers a Rabies Contingency plan in which 21 London boroughs participate. The second Animal Reception Centre (ARC) at Heathrow is run by Animal Aircare, adhering to all the same regulations as the HARC.

The City of London runs the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC Heathrow) to carry out its main statutory responsibilities under the Animal Health Act, 1981, this legislation incorporates Rabies controls and the Welfare of Animals During Transport Order 1997. The City of London also has responsibilities for other UK animal related legislation. The City of London also administers a Rabies Contingency plan in which 21 London boroughs participate. The second Animal Reception Centre (ARC) at Heathrow is run by Animal Aircare, adhering to all the same regulations as the HARC.

Both Animal Reception Centres at Heathrow operate as Border Inspection Posts for live animals at Heathrow.All animals entering the UK have to pass through a Border Inspection Post so they can be inspected and have a specific type of entry certificate issued. This is issued by part of DEFRA, namely APHA, personnel of which are based within the airport area, with easy access to either BIP.

Since November 1999 dogs and cats from Europe (the EU) have been allowed to enter the UK without doing the statutory six months quarantine, provided they can fulfil the requirements under the PETS Scheme. In the meantime, other countries have been added to the list, with the USA and Canada joining in 2002. The scheme, by air, allows airlines who wish to participate to become approved by DEFRA. The approval process ensures DEFRA that the airline has the processes in place to meet the requirements of the scheme. DEFRA also have to approve the routes that the airlines wish to fly in from. Thus, potential users must check the list of approved routes and airlines, which can be found on the DEFRA website. The scheme consists of preparing your animal. For cats and dogs, it is necessary to have the animal micro-chipped first. Then, the animal must be vaccinated against rabies. After a period of about four weeks, if required the animal can then have a blood test to make sure that the vaccination has worked. The vet who takes the blood test will send the sample to one of the approved laboratories so they can carry out this test. Pets arriving at Heathrow travelling under the PETS (Pet Travel Scheme) allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules. All the necessary import checks are undertaken at either ARC. Once we have established that everything is in order and cleared your animal with the UK border control, owners of pets compliant with the Pet Travel Scheme can then take them home. If a problem is found then we endeavour to sort out any issue as quickly as possible. However, it is sometimes necessary for animals to be moved to a quarantine premises if a problem cannot be resolved within a day or so. PETS information can be found on DEFRA PETS website