BajaNomad - Crossing the border with 2 dogs - must be in dog carriers?

Crossing the border with 2 dogs - must be in dog carriers?

Advmoto18 - 4-20-2016 at 11:19 AM

Search yield no results.

Any information regarding dogs being in crates crossing the border or at military check points?

I can't find any reference to a Mexican government requirement. I have noted a couple of comments through Google searches.

Thanks for any info.

Bill

woody with a view - 4-20-2016 at 11:22 AM

No, just don't go thru Tecate and you'll be fine.

AKgringo - 4-20-2016 at 12:18 PM

I have never had a problem crossing with my dog, including several Tecate crossings (the last in Oct 2014). I don't have a crate, but I have had to exit the vehicle with her on a leash.

My girl was large, but friendly, and I kept a leash in the side pocket of my driver's door. I have even had several soldiers offer to hold her leash while my vehicle was being inspected.

I always have her papers in order, but have never been asked for them by MX or US agents!

[Edited on 4-20-2016 by AKgringo]

toronja - 4-20-2016 at 01:06 PM

I will second akgringo's comments. We have crossed the border back and forth with our two large dogs several times now (along with many checkpoints) and not had any issues. The military guys have really enjoyed meeting the dogs in most instances (they do have to come out of the car at some checkpoints, so leashes are important).

We do get veterinary health certificates and bring proof of vaccinations. We do not bring crates, and have never heard that one. If asked for them we would simply drive back to San Diego and pick a couple up - you could always donate them to one of the local shelters if you didn't want them after the border crossing.

BajaBlanca - 4-20-2016 at 01:27 PM

crates, as far as I know, only for planes.

Udo - 4-20-2016 at 01:29 PM

Crates also work well for gatos.

Dog/Cat crates

bajaguy - 4-20-2016 at 02:20 PM

They can "usually" be found at segundas

rts551 - 4-20-2016 at 02:28 PM

For the first time in 50 some years I got asked for shot records etc coming south... San Luis De Colorado.

Advmoto18 - 4-20-2016 at 02:40 PM

Thank you for the replies!
Bill

[Edited on 4-20-2016 by Advmoto18]

SFandH - 4-20-2016 at 03:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by rts551

For the first time in 50 some years I got asked for shot records etc coming south... San Luis De Colorado.

Really? Damn it!

That's the first I've heard of that. Guess I better get my vet papers together and put them in the truck. I've been crossing with dogs at San Ysidro for about 30 years and have never been questioned going in either direction.

Hook - 4-21-2016 at 05:57 AM

Based on past posts on Nomads, avoiding Tecate is good advice. There was more than one instance of gringos being shaken down by Tecate cops for this supposed infraction (and, all the while, persons riding in the back of p/u trucks without seat belts were whizzing by, no doubt, :biggrin:

).

This uneven "enforcement" makes it hard to predict, but I think I would take a chance and not carry carriers. Keep their heads DOWN if you have to go through Tecate.

[Edited on 4-21-2016 by Hook]

rts551 - 4-21-2016 at 06:10 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

Quote: Originally posted by rts551

For the first time in 50 some years I got asked for shot records etc coming south... San Luis De Colorado.

First time it ever happened to me. I was surprised.

mojo_norte - 4-21-2016 at 09:37 AM

I've been asked the past two times for dog papers crossing at Tecate - Mex immigration.

SFandH - 4-21-2016 at 10:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mojo_norte

I've been asked the past two times for dog papers crossing at Tecate - Mex immigration.

What do you show them? All I have is a little booklet the vet gave me where he records which shots and when they were given, and maybe some payment receipts (if I can find them).

mojo_norte - 4-21-2016 at 10:39 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

Quote: Originally posted by mojo_norte

I've been asked the past two times for dog papers crossing at Tecate - Mex immigration.

What do you show them? All I have is a little booklet the vet gave me where he records which shots and when they were given, and maybe some payment receipts (if I can find them).

I only showed them their current vaccination certificates and that seemed to be OK. I've heard that your supposed to have a recent certificate of health .

toronja - 4-21-2016 at 11:18 AM

Crossing to Mexico you are supposed to have a health certificate on your vet's letterhead in both English and Spanish stating that they've been examined in the past 10 days and found healthy, along with proof of their vaccinations. At least, those were the requirements as of last year. You do not need the USDA-stamped international health certificate. Coming back you only need proof of rabies vaccination.

We have never been asked for this at San Ysidro or Mexicali (haven't been through Tecate), but I have it each time anyway.

SFandH - 4-21-2016 at 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by toronja

Crossing to Mexico you are supposed to have a health certificate on your vet's letterhead in both English and Spanish stating that they've been examined in the past 10 days and found healthy..........

That's highly impractical for me. In the past two months I've crossed the border with my dog 5 or 6 times. I have to go to my vet every 10 days for an examination?? Yeah sure thing.

Time to boot up the computer, open my word processor and make up some "Certificates of Good Health".

Could you post the last one you got from your vet so I can use it as a starting point?

toronja - 4-21-2016 at 11:41 AM

I don't have a digital copy. We found a sample one online (though I'm having trouble tracking it down now), or you can request it from your local USDA office. They were helpful.

All of the information on what needs to be included can be found here:
http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?Idioma=2&id=623

On reflection, the official page does mention the crate requirement. I still suspect that it's meant for air travel, and we will continue to take the gamble on that one.

baconjr - 4-25-2016 at 09:13 AM

SENTRI inspector threaten to take away my wife's SENTRI card if she didn't have shot documents next time she crossed. He noted her record and next time she crossed the inspector requested the documents.

toronja - 4-25-2016 at 09:31 AM

Thanks for the info. Was this entering Mexico or entering the US?

(I'm glad to hear it, frankly. Rabies is an awful, incurable disease, and having the vaccination records also protects your pet from being euthanized as a public health/safety measure if it's attacked by a wild animal or otherwise thought to have been exposed to rabies.)

BajaMama - 4-25-2016 at 04:25 PM

You can download the PDF - I just printed my very own and extremely inexpensive Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals. It is forged but free, and all the information is true and accurate. I am tired of spending $150 every trip to Baja. The only time I have been asked for it was when I flew into Loreto with my dog a few years back. But it is a good thing to have should someone ask for it (and it looks exactly the same as the one the vet gives me).

It is APHIS Form 7001. This is for Mexico, not the USA.

I will also get a Vaccination Report from my vet for re-entering the USA should anyone ask for it (I will be using SENTRI for the first time and may get pulled into secondary.

toronja - 4-25-2016 at 04:56 PM

I would be cautious about using the APHIS 7001. I was advised against using a legal/official copy of that by both my vet and the USDA, because it used to be required and they said if officials saw it, they would expect it to have the official stamp/seal from your regional USDA office (which is an additional hoop to jump through vs. just a certificate from your vet). Also, you are then forging a federal document that is easy to track rather than just a letter from any veterinarian (all that is necessary).

Not passing judgement, just a word of caution on that specific form. We only cross into MX once a year and our dogs need an annual exam anyway, so there's little additional cost for us... just some extra paperwork.

BajaMama - 4-28-2016 at 07:17 AM

I hear you regarding the 7001, I did pay for it in October and the one I did myself is the exact same thing my vet did only that cost me $$ to get printed. She did not add a document/certificate number. We will see how brave I am before I go. I have to take dog in for boardatella (sp) and obtain a Vac report before we leave anyway...

nomana - 5-1-2016 at 08:04 PM

I was told it needs to be a certified health certificate gotten within 10 days of the trip. I agree with you, SFandH, it seems ridiculous that it's only valid for 10 days. There should be something else for animals that go back and forth often. An FMM for animals would be good.

However, if some have crossed with only vaccination history, perhaps I'll try that.

AKgringo - 5-1-2016 at 08:50 PM

The health certificate is good for thirty days if you are driving. The airlines require it to be within ten days.

toronja - 5-2-2016 at 09:02 AM

AKgringo, I heard differently. I was told that an official stamped, certified APHIS form 7001 is good for 30 days (obtained at additional cost to you and getting it mailed to the USDA and back). All of my research suggested that a general letter from your vet certifying your animal's health (all that is required) is only good for 10 days, whether you are driving or flying. It is not the airlines that require the health certificate, it is SENASICA.

Again, if anyone has questions, it's best to just call (or have your vet call) your regional USDA-APHIS office.

AKgringo - 5-2-2016 at 03:44 PM

Toranja, yes, I was referring to the official APHIS form 7001, and the Alaska State form #18-401. Both are accepted for transport or border crossing, but come with a fee in addition to the exam cost.

They are issued with a thirty day expiration date, but as of yesterday when I booked my tickets on Alaska Airlines, they reminded me that they require them to be within 10 days of boarding.

Flying within the state (Alaska) all that is required is proof of rabies and distemper vaccination.

nomana - 5-2-2016 at 09:08 PM

Gracias AKgringo. My vet is up to date on all the requirements. Perhaps it was because I was flying before that they said 10 days. I'll double check with them in case they have to write the letter differently. A month is great!