Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) is providing specialized animal‑handling and containment training for Heathrow Airport’s Airside Operations team to support safety, compliance, and incident readiness across the airfield.
The training prepares staff to manage domestic, exotic, hazardous, and large animals during airside incidents in a live operational environment.
The training also covers animal behaviour, zoonotic risk, safe handling of dogs and cats, identification and containment of hazardous or exotic species, and response protocols for large animal incidents.
(Source: HARC)
"As a global gateway, Heathrow Airport handles one of the most diverse live animal flows in the world," said Peter Dunphy, chair of the City of London Corporation's Port Health and Environmental Services Committee.
"That demands more than basic awareness training in scenarios where speed, judgement, and control are critical," he added. "This course builds on decades of frontline experience managing high risk, time sensitive, and welfare critical situations, so that airside teams can respond with authority and precision if and when needed."
Each year, around 100 farm animals, 300 horses, 1,000 birds, 20,000 dogs and cats, 120,000 reptiles and amphibians, 22 million ornamental fish, and billions of invertebrates arrive at Heathrow.
"Airside Operations teams are not necessarily animal specialists, yet they are the first on scene when an incident occurs," said Susie Pritchard, assistant director Animal Health & Welfare, City of London Corporation.
"Our role as a leading provider in live animal care and compliance is to share our expertise, set clear standards, and ensure that safety, welfare, and operational continuity are treated as one integrated responsibility."
Operated by the City of London Corporation, HARC is the UK's only Live Animal Border Control Post approved to receive all species.
It is IATA CEIV Live Animals certified and operates 24/7 all year round, caring for millions of animals annually, including zoo species and high value consignments.
