A possible limit on animal imports from the UK to Bermuda is unnecessary and excessive, according to a pet owner’s group.The Bermuda Veterinary Association (BVA) says the UK should continue to be treated as rabies free after January 1, 2012, when the county’s rabies laws are set to relax.The switch raises the possibility of Bermuda blocking the importation of kittens and puppies from Britain.Local animal lovers say pets should still be allowed to come to the Island without a rabies vaccination as long as they have been born and bred in the UK or spent at least six months there and that kittens and puppies under 15 weeks are “extremely unlikely” to carry the disease.Now, out of concern that their side will not be heard, the group is asking to meet directly with Environment Minister Marc Bean.The Minister has said Government policy remains unchanged, and will simply be reviewed in the wake of Britain’s decision to relax its rabies laws.Acknowledging that his suggestion would not prove popular, Government vet Jonathan Nisbett has proposed restrictions since the UK will cease to meet the stringent international requirements necessary to be deemed rabies-free.Bermuda Kennel Club Chairwoman Carole Havercroft countered: “There is more risk of rabies entering Bermuda by an accidental animal in a container, and dogs and cats on boats and yachts, than by young pets travelling from the UK.”She said age limits on the animals were potentially harmful, puppies needed to be adopted early to adapt to their new owners.“Continuing to allow young puppies into Bermuda will also help prevent an increase in opportunistic breeding for money, already occurring on the Island,” she said.Cutting off the UK supply would push up prices in Bermuda, and push quality down.“We already see some exaggerated pricing on Bermuda-bred puppies,” Ms Havercroft said.Along with Environmental Protection head Fred Ming, Dr Nisbett recently sat down with the group to hear its comeback to Government concerns.Now the group has written to Mr Bean, calling the suggested restrictions “unnecessarily excessive” and asking for Bermuda’s current import rules to be kept in place.The letter also reads: “Those of us actively working on a daily basis with dogs and cats in the community, be it as veterinarians, pet dog trainers, therapy dog handlers, breeders or dog sport competitors, are extremely concerned with even the potential threat of a puppy/kitten ban.“The effects on the domestic pet population in Bermuda would be disastrous.”Useful website: www.defra.gov.uk.