Looking for pet transport in Edinburgh? Whether it’s a dog taxi across the city, a puppy collection from further afield, or a pickup from the airport, here’s a rating-sorted look at who actually operates locally, what the DEFRA licensing tells you, and the one piece of airport detail that’s genuinely different here from anywhere else on this site.
A note on the ratings below: these are Google’s, from real reviewers, not our own inspection.
Scotland’s only Animal Receiving Centre
Edinburgh Airport is where this page earns its place, and it’s worth stating plainly: this is Scotland’s only Animal Receiving Centre, not just Edinburgh’s — the reason Glasgow, when we cover it, won’t have its own equivalent airport story.
The centre is operated by Extrordinair, and Edinburgh Airport’s own page describes it directly: “Extrordinair is the Border Inspection Post (BIP) for pets at Edinburgh Airport. They allow dogs, cats and other small animals to fly into the airport as long as they meet the regulations of the EU Pet Travel Scheme.” The same page states you can expect fresh water, dry food and a secure exercise area for your pet while they’re in the centre’s care, and that you’ll normally be reunited with your pet within 3 hours of arriving.
That timing sits between the two other airports we’ve covered: noticeably longer than Manchester’s roughly 90 minutes, but shorter than Heathrow’s commonly quoted 3 to 4 hours. As with those two pages, this isn’t a ranking — it reflects three genuinely different scales and setups, not one airport doing a better or worse job than another. Our full guide to Animal Reception Centres in the UK covers the wider process, including the accompanied-versus-unaccompanied distinction that applies wherever you’re flying into.
Pet transport operators based in Edinburgh
1. Animals At Home — Edinburgh & Lothians
18 Cotlands Park, Longniddry EH32 0QX
★ 5.0 (8 reviews)
Phone: 07960 020246
Google Maps · Website
2. Happy Paws
52 Silverknowes Gardens EH4 5NF
★ 5.0 (1 review)
Phone: 07902 933099
Google Maps · Website
3. Lothian Pet Transport
37 Deanpark Ave, Balerno EH14 7EB
Phone: 07734 320178
Google Maps · No independent website found — their Facebook page states they’re based in Edinburgh, cover Scotland and Northern England, and transport pets individually unless from the same household.
Honest context: this is a genuine sample rather than an exhaustive list of everyone operating locally — do your own additional check if you’re outside the areas these three cover, particularly further into the Lothians.
National operators who also cover Edinburgh
The same recurring UK-wide names show up here too — The Pet Bus, ExecPets, 101 Pet Express, PetsA2B, PetAir UK and Sky Kennels among them. None of that makes them the wrong choice, particularly for longer or international moves, but they’re covering Edinburgh from elsewhere rather than being based here.
Checking a DEFRA licence in Edinburgh
Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations are published as open data by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and updated monthly. Type 1 (up to 8 hours) isn’t published anywhere public.
We checked the current register against the three local operators above, and none currently appear on the published Type 2 list. That does not mean any of them are unlicensed. All three do the kind of shorter, local and regional work that commonly sits under Type 1 authorisation, which simply isn’t published anywhere we or you can check independently — this is the same pattern we found among the smaller local operators on the Manchester and London pages. Ask any operator directly for their authorisation reference regardless of what you find in the published register.
For what it’s worth, several of the national names above — PetsA2B, PetAir UK and Sky Kennels — do appear on the published Type 2 list.
Getting around Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s motorway position is straightforward compared with somewhere like London: the M8 runs west towards Glasgow, the M9 north-west towards Stirling, and the city bypass (A720) links the main routes around the southern edge of the city without needing to cross the centre. For most local pet transport work this doesn’t add much beyond what any operator will already know — it’s a compact city compared with the ones we’ve covered so far, and the real local substance here is the airport, not the road network.
What to have ready on the day
A DEFRA authorisation reference on request, confirmation of whether your pet travels alone or with others, and a written quote before booking are the same basics that apply everywhere in this directory — our pet transport hub covers the full list of questions worth asking and red flags to watch for. If your dog is a puppy coming from a breeder, our guide to puppy couriers covers what’s genuinely different about that specific journey.
For dogs that find travel or a new environment stressful, some owners find a natural calming supplement helps take the edge off — worth having a look around Calmshops. It’s not a substitute for the checks above, just something that can help alongside them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions dog owners may have about this topic.
How long does it take to clear a pet through Edinburgh Airport?
Normally within 3 hours of arrival, according to Edinburgh Airport’s own guidance for the Animal Receiving Centre. That’s longer than Manchester’s typical 90 minutes but shorter than the 3 to 4 hours commonly quoted at Heathrow.
Is Edinburgh Airport’s Animal Receiving Centre the same as Manchester’s or Heathrow’s?
No — all three are genuinely different setups and scales, run by different operators, with different typical clearance times. None is better or worse; they’re simply different in size and structure.
Is Edinburgh the only Animal Receiving Centre in Scotland?
Yes. Extrordinair’s Border Inspection Post at Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s only one, which is why other Scottish cities in this directory don’t have their own airport reception story in the same way.
Should I use a local Edinburgh operator or a national pet courier?
It depends on the job. A local operator often makes sense for everyday trips within the city and the Lothians, while national operators tend to have more experience with long-distance or international moves. Check licensing and reviews either way.
Does the DEFRA Type 2 register cover all licensed Edinburgh operators?
No — it only covers Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations. Local operators doing shorter, everyday jobs commonly hold Type 1 authorisation instead, which isn’t published anywhere public. Not appearing on the Type 2 list doesn’t mean an operator is unlicensed.
Written by Georgiana & Figo. Have a question about pet transport? Have a look around Calmshops or drop us a line — we answer everything.
