The results of an 89 year trial announced today by the passport office have paved the way for the phased introduction of passports for pets. Human passports have been in operation since 1915 when they replaced formal letters of introduction and guarantees of safe passage and, despite minor problems with fraud the passport office today declared their experimental use in humans a resounding success.
Pete Smith, Director General of the Passport Office, told an audience of journalists and dog owners that passport uptake was now close to 90% in the human population and despite occasional issues with travelling humans returning to the UK with infectious diseases the office now believed it was safe to begin issuing passports to pets.
The news was greeted with cheers by the pet owners in the audience who have campaigned for years to allow their animals to travel with them, a jubilant Eileen Richardson, accompanied by her red setter Barney, told reporters, 'I'd like to thank the government, the staff at the passport office and all the millions of British people, members of my own family included, who have been involved in the rigorous trials that have made today's announcement possible. I'm looking forward to taking Barney with me on my next trip to Borneo and seeing him roaming free across the jungles and beaches.' Customs Officials and Police greeted the news with caution, representatives from both organisations have been closely involved in the trials amidst fears that pets could become unwitting couriers for drugs.
Det. Insp. Brian Wilson cautiously welcomed the news saying, 'Trials in humans have established the feasibility of passports for pets, our only concern now is the possibility of pet on pet violence as hundreds queue to be issued with their new passports.'
