Plan ahead to travel overseas with pets
Dear Lawyer,
After a lifetime of hard work, I am thinking of retiring and living for the four winter months in a warmer climate. I have three wonderful dogs and wouldn’t think of leaving them behind. Right now I am considering Costa Rica, Mexico, or even Italy. How difficult is it to temporarily bring pets to foreign countries? — Wishful Thinking
Dear Wishful Thinker,
Your retirement plans sound great, and there is no reason you can’t bring your pets on your winter sojourns, with careful planning.
Every country has different rules about admitting foreign pets. Costa Rica requires up-to-date pet vaccinations within two weeks of departure and a certificate of good health from a veterinarian authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue such permits. Once in country, you would have to obtain approval from the Costa Rican Health Ministry for your pet to stay longer than 30 days. Since bureaucratic rules can change with the wind, you would be advised to check with the nearest consulate or embassy well in advance of your departure to make sure you will meet all requirements.
Mexico requires a pet health certificate issued by a USDA-authorized veterinarian within ten days of departure from the U.S. All documents should be in Spanish and English. If you drive into Mexico with your dogs, technically you need a permit from the Mexico Agriculture Department, which is supposed to have a representative at border crossings. However, many such posts are not staffed, and travelers have reported that this will not keep you from entering Mexico if you have the required paperwork. If you fly in, the agriculture inspector will be at the airport.
If you live in a border state—Arizona, California, Texas, or New Mexico—you will be allowed into the country with a health certificate from any veterinarian residing in the “border zone.” The health certificate is valid for six months. Unfortunately for you, a maximum of two pets are allowed in. You could check with the consulate in Albuquerque to see if there is a way around this restriction.
The European Union is a bit more rigid. Italy requires updated vaccines and microchips, plus a European Veterinary Health Certificate and rabies certificate. Timelines have to be just right, as a rabies certificate obtained prior to the microchip will be invalid, and the pet would have to be revaccinated. You also need to obtain what is called a European Union pet passport!
If you plan to travel to Great Britain during your stay in Europe, you are prohibited from entering with a Pit Bull, would have to purchase expensive medical insurance, need proof of myriad immunizations, and might still have to put your pet in quarantine for six months. Not worth it.
Even in the United States, there are barriers. Upon landing at Honolulu International Airport, you need to have a veterinary inspector certify the health of your dogs. If all immunizations are not up to date, or a contagious health problem is found, a quarantine of up to 120 days may be required. That could ruin any snowbird’s plans. Horse owners face this kind of scrutiny every time they cross into another state, most of which require certificates of veterinary inspection and Coggins testing paperwork, in some cases administered within the last 10 days!
If you are thorough, plan well in advance, and don’t mind a bit of stress at border crossings, you should be able to make this work in at least one of your chosen destinations. If not, I hear Florida is quite nice at that time of year!
Ed Goodman worked for more than two decades as a trial lawyer in Massachusetts. A painter, screenwriter, and novelist, he lives in Corrales with partner Ennio Garcia-Miera and their seven dogs, four turkeys, four chickens, and a parrot.