BajaNomad

U.S. Customs confiscating dog food at border

toneart - 4-24-2007 at 04:41 PM

I just received an email from a friend who informed me that all dog food was being confiscated at the border coming into the United States. That was her experience. I would assume it has something to do with the big pet food recall because pets have been dying.

I will be returning with three 40lb. bags of dog food that I purchaced in the U.S. and haven´t used. (Dog ate less than I estimated). This brand, Canidae, was not on the recall list.

Does anyone have knowledge of this? If anyone is going north in the next few days would you ask for me and then post here? Thank you.

Diver - 4-24-2007 at 04:46 PM

They are insane.
Last time we came back to the US, we had a package of Longmont Turkey Framks, made in Longmont , Colorado. They said we couldn't take it home because they have to assume that since it has been in mexico, it is contaminated. They said all meat products must be confiscated but the 25 lbs of shrimp and fish in the freezer were ok !?

What about me ?? I am a meat product that has been to Baja ?? :lol:

IDIOTS !!!
.

woody with a view - 4-24-2007 at 04:49 PM

Quote:

They said all meat products must be confiscated


unreal. they told me that anything except RAW pork is okay...

oladulce - 4-24-2007 at 07:06 PM

When we came back thru Tecate in Feb. they confiscated our Opened bag of cat food . He said they had no way of confirming the origin or contents of the products even when we told him it was US cat food.

I don't know if the problem was the fact that the bag was open ? But it was one month before the recall was announced so it had nothing to do with the tainted food.

Bob and Susan - 4-24-2007 at 07:08 PM

the ag dept has always been able to confiscate open bags of dog food.

if the bags are closed and say "made in usa" you can take them across

Diver - 4-24-2007 at 07:23 PM

Funny, when they took my weenies at Tecate', I had 2 open bags of dog food that they didn't comment on !?

Geez, maybe a little consistency ??? :lol:
.

DENNIS - 4-24-2007 at 07:33 PM

I wonder if you can make a roadside bomb out of Purina?

chino - 4-24-2007 at 08:29 PM

I've "heard' of "someone "hiding fireworks in dog food bags to keep the NARC dogs away???

bajaguy - 4-24-2007 at 08:54 PM

I seriously doubt that a "narc" dog would alert on fireworks hidden in a bag of dog food.........maybe a "bomb" dog, but not a "narc" dog

Diver - 4-24-2007 at 10:20 PM

Never a problem going into Mexico !

oladulce - 4-24-2007 at 10:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
Has anybody had trouble bringing pet food into México? I'm flying in next week with two cats who will need to eat at some point (overnight in MEX).

Thanks!

Kate


Kate-

It looks like my friend CP had trouble flying in with cat food recently. I can put you in touch with her if you'd like more specifics.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23705

toneart - 4-25-2007 at 10:16 AM

Regarding bringing pet food into Mexico, I have never had a problem. I always worry about it though. My dog has special dietary needs and I can't get his special food in Mexico. As we have all discovered, in Mexico it depends on the mood and judgement or recognized opportunity of the individual doing the inspecting. Gurrero Negro is probably where one would have a problem, if there is a problem. Of course, if you are stopping at the border to declare items, that is a point of vulnerability. I stopped on the way down in December to declare stuff but they didn't say anything about the six bags of dogfood. By the way, I always have the international health certificate, even though I have never been asked for it.

Iflyfish - 4-25-2007 at 10:21 AM

Diver,
Sorry to hear about your weenie. My condolences!

Iflyfish

DENNIS - 4-25-2007 at 01:43 PM

How times have changed. Fifteen years ago, you couldn't find pet food in Baja. Special food for a dog or cat? Unheard of. Table scraps and the neighbors trash can was all they got.
And, to this day, if you want to completely disgust a Mexican, tell him/her that you let your dog get on the bed.

Dog Food Heading North

MrBillM - 4-25-2007 at 08:52 PM

Mexicali Garita Oriente Northbound this afternoon at 1430 hrs. Zero wait time. Cursory look inside the camper shell. Looked straight at three cases of Canned Dog Food (which Was a brand included on the recall list) and didn't say a word other than have a nice day.

fdt - 4-25-2007 at 09:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
How times have changed. Fifteen years ago, you couldn't find pet food in Baja. Special food for a dog or cat? Unheard of. Table scraps and the neighbors trash can was all they got.
And, to this day, if you want to completely disgust a Mexican, tell him/her that you let your dog get on the bed.

What areas do you visit? i'm 50 and we have always had canned or dried food for dogs.:?::?:

DianaT - 4-26-2007 at 07:01 PM

Crossed into the US at Tecate today with our two dogs. Asked about our dog food and sent to secondary to check it out.

Told them the dry food was from a pet store in the US and the canned food was from Costco---US Costco. No problem---they looked and sent us on our way.

They said it was a new rule

Diane

David K - 4-26-2007 at 07:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
Crossed into the US at Tecate today with our two dogs. Asked about our dog food and sent to secondary to check it out.

Told them the dry food was from a pet store in the US and the canned food was from Costco---US Costco. No problem---they looked and sent us on our way.

They said it was a new rule

Diane


Diane, did you ask (or did they tell you) what were the new rules? Mexican brand dog food not allowed or any open bag of kibble???

DianaT - 4-26-2007 at 08:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
Crossed into the US at Tecate today with our two dogs. Asked about our dog food and sent to secondary to check it out.

Told them the dry food was from a pet store in the US and the canned food was from Costco---US Costco. No problem---they looked and sent us on our way.

They said it was a new rule

Diane


Diane, did you ask (or did they tell you) what were the new rules? Mexican brand dog food not allowed or any open bag of kibble???


David---good questions. After they asked us what we had to declare, they asked us if we had any dog food---two dogs in the cab of the truck are a real clue.

We told them yes, but it was food purchased in the US, not Mexico. They still sent us to secondary to check it out. They really were very polite and nice. I asked the man in secondary what the problem was. He explained that it was a new requirement that had to do with the protein in the dog food made in Mexico that might make dogs ill. ---I really did not understand, but just agreed. But they don't want Mexican dog food. Makes me really wonder what the problem might be---sounded strange.

John opened the back of the truck for them, they peeked into the ice chest, and glanced at the dog food. They asked where we bought it--- and then made sure that the kibble was not purchased at Costco in Mexico. They indicated that if it was food made in Mexico, or purchased in Mexico, they might have taken it. They believed us and we lost nothing. Next time, however, we will make sure we have all the receipts.

Don't know what they are doing at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa---we chose to cross at Tecate today.

Diane

Bob and Susan - 5-6-2007 at 06:08 AM

cats from PARIS France...
you were RESCUEING them:lol::lol:






(re: my mom was french so i have a license to bash:lol: )