Looking for pet transport in Leicester? Here’s a rating-sorted look at who actually operates locally, what the motorway position offers, and what the DEFRA licensing tells you.
A note on the ratings below: these are Google’s, from real reviewers, not our own inspection.
Pet transport covering Leicester
Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC
34 Shields Cres, Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2JS
Phone: 07565 487647
Google Maps · Website
The same not-for-profit, volunteer-run emergency pet transport service that covers Nottingham also covers Leicester and much of Leicestershire. Worth restating the scope precisely: this is emergency veterinary transport, not a service for routine, scheduled trips like a groomer appointment. If your pet needs urgent transport to a vet, this is a genuine, verifiable local option; for everyday jobs, it may not be the right fit.
Beyond this, our search didn’t turn up a genuinely Leicester-based independent offering everyday pet taxi work — the closest local names we found, like Tails of Joy in Aylestone, are dog walking and boarding services without a dedicated transport offering.
National operators who also cover Leicester
The same recurring UK-wide names show up here too — The Pet Bus, PetsA2B, ExecPets, 101 Pet Express (based in nearby Nottingham) and others among them. None of that makes them the wrong choice, particularly for longer or international moves, but they’re covering Leicester from elsewhere rather than being based here.
Checking a DEFRA licence in Leicester
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. Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC’s work is predominantly local emergency transport, the kind that would typically sit under Type 1 — ask them directly for their current authorisation reference before relying on their service, and note that not appearing on the published Type 2 list is never evidence of being unlicensed.
Getting around: the M1, M69 and East Midlands Airport
Leicester sits close to the M1, with the M69 branching south-west towards Coventry and the wider West Midlands, and the A46 giving a direct route to Nottingham. East Midlands Airport, near Castle Donington, is a genuine landmark for the wider region — the UK’s largest airport for freight and cargo outside London — though we checked and couldn’t confirm it has its own live animal Border Control Post for pets arriving under the Pet Travel Scheme. The main UK pet reception centres remain Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester — see our Manchester pet transport guide for the nearest confirmed arrangement to Leicester.
What to have ready before you travel
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.
Is there a local pet transport operator in Leicester?
Yes — Midlands Pet Ambulance CIC, based in Castle Donington, covers Leicester and much of Leicestershire, but specifically for emergency veterinary transport rather than routine scheduled trips.
Does East Midlands Airport have an Animal Reception Centre?
We couldn’t confirm one. Despite being the UK’s largest freight airport outside London, the main UK pet reception centres for the Pet Travel Scheme remain Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
Does the DEFRA Type 2 register cover all licensed Leicester operators?
No — it only covers Type 2 (long journey, over 8 hours) authorisations. Local operators doing shorter, emergency or everyday jobs commonly hold Type 1 authorisation instead, which isn’t published anywhere public.
What motorways serve Leicester for pet transport?
Leicester sits close to the M1, with the M69 branching towards Coventry and the West Midlands, and the A46 running to Nottingham.
Written by Georgiana & Figo. Have a question about pet transport? Have a look around Calmshops or drop us a line — we answer everything.
