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Published by Mark Smith-HalvorsenMore pet owners will be able to spend travel money on their animals when rules regarding taking them overseas are updated next year.While rabies vaccinations will remain compulsory, pets who live in the European Union will not be required to undergo a blood test from January 1st 2012 onwards.Animals will also be able to head overseas just three weeks after receiving the jabs.Caroline Spelman, the UK's environment secretary, said the changes should enable Britain to stay "protected" from exotic diseases, but make it less difficult for consumers to take their animals with them overseas."It's time we changed these outdated rules which have caused hardship to generations of pets and pet owners," she commented.Ms Spelman added that the existing quarantine system has been "left far behind by scientific advances".According to figures from Petplan, less than a quarter of pet owners in the UK are accompanied by their animal on holiday.For competitive rates and commission free travel money, visit our Travel FX site