BajaNomad - Pet shots for Mexico question

Pet shots for Mexico question

kodiak - 11-15-2007 at 09:40 PM

My father in law, heard that, to return from Baja Mexico....you had to get your pets vaccinated AGAIN if you have been there for more than 30 days. Any truth to this???

Howard - 11-15-2007 at 10:05 PM

I am very familiar with this. The key question is, is the dog flying back or crossing the border in a vehicle?

kodiak - 11-15-2007 at 10:08 PM

In a vehicle

Howard - 11-15-2007 at 10:14 PM

I can speak from personal experience from the TJ or Otay Mesa crossing from Mexico into the USA. NEVER has any of us been question at all about our dogs. We all love are dogs like our children and would never jeopardise (sic) are dogs welfare but it is no problem what so ever to bring your canine from Mexico into the USA at the border crossings without any paperwork at all. Between myself and my friends, this has been done 100s and 100s of times over the years and no border agent has ever said one word about them or ever asked for any paperwork.
Flying is a completely different story.

kodiak - 11-15-2007 at 10:16 PM

Thanks Howard...I had never heard of a problem....but, he wanted me to ask.

Marie-Rose - 11-16-2007 at 07:07 AM

ditto soulpatch... we always travel with an international travel certificate. Never been asked for it driving but they always want it when we are flying. $90 Cnd at home and free in Mexico :yes:

Marie-Rose - 11-16-2007 at 07:08 AM

...oh ya, and I do believe there is some requirement that it be filled out within a few days prior to your travel date. Can't remember what that time is??

bajaretreat - 11-16-2007 at 08:02 AM

We've only crossed the border (Mexicali) once, back in 2002, and since we had quite a few dogs with us as well as our household goods, they did ask to see our health certificates. When I researched the date limitation prior to our trip, I found very contradicting info....some said the certificate couldn't be more than 4 days old, some said 10 days, and the household goods broker told me over the phone they would be honored for up to a month.

Same conflicting info for flying....I find it best to call the airline I will be using and go by their policy....it is usually stated on their company website so if someone tries to tell you differently you have ammo if needed. Some airlines give you 10 days, others are okay up to a month.

DrTom - 11-16-2007 at 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marie-Rose
ditto soulpatch... we always travel with an international travel certificate. Never been asked for it driving but they always want it when we are flying. $90 Cnd at home and free in Mexico :yes:

Damn, i knew i needed to start charging for that! Intl health certificates are good for 10 days as on the form. The key to what you need is this, it depends on the mode of transportation. Sometimes when you drive all they want is a rabies certificate, and sometimes they dont ask. I would get a health certificate within 10 days of travel and get a current rabies vaccine. If your in mexico longer than 10 days, go to a local vet and get a health certificate before you go home. Dont get the dog vaccinated again, you dont need it. By the way ask your vet to make sure theyre current on the distemper combination with leptospirosis also.....

Health Certificates

Loretana - 11-16-2007 at 08:52 AM

I have flown my Lab Chazz back and forth from Portland to Loreto five times in the past year (we're building a home) and we keep a 30 day current health certificate with us.

Alaska Airlines always wants to see the paperwork which my vet here in Oregon updates for me each time we leave; in Portland as well as in Loreto.

As a professional courtesy, my Vet stamps and signs the forms (in quadruplicate!) each time we leave Oregon.

On November 1st, we came into Customs at LAX and it was the first time US Agriculture ever asked to see our certificate. It was over a month old, but the Agent had no problem with it.

I can't imagine traveling without my buddy!! :dudette:

Bajaboy - 11-16-2007 at 08:57 AM

Are the rules the same for cats? We are taking our cats down with us to Asuncion for our month long trip next summer.

Zac

DrTom - 11-16-2007 at 09:45 AM

In 25 yrs of being licensed in California, Washington, and British Columbia and also co-owning a practice in mexico, I have seen every combination imaginable needed to cross a border (can/us, can/mex, cal/mex and vice versa) depending on the mode of transport.. The bottom line it is up to the customs/usda/aphis/food and ag person/policy at the time. If you have a current health certificate (there's a time limit on the form) and current rabies certificate (rabies vaccine's are current from anywhere from 1 yr to 3 yr) you'll be good to go. So I have current health certs and vaccine certificates with me for my pets when i travel.

There can be exceptions for cats (see http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Cats_Dogs.html) but get the health cert and current rabies anyway, unless you want to do a policy search at the border (which you do not).

This all became more complicated after 9/11 and concomittant concerns re bioterrorism.

Thirty-Eight + years of Dog Travel

MrBillM - 11-16-2007 at 10:08 AM

I first brought one of my dogs with me to Baja in 1969 and have made hundreds of trips by Auto. After the first couple of trips where I purchased the International Health Certificate, I was told by Mexican Customs, they weren't interested and ONLY wanted to see the Rabies Certificate. ASKING the U.S. officials, they also said their only concern was that the Rabies Certificate was up to date.

Since that time, I have never been challenged by officials on EITHER side for further documentation.

toneart - 11-16-2007 at 10:18 AM

Kodiak,
Everybody has an opinion. Not everybody is right. Dr. Tom is giving you the responsible advice. Don't take chances with you pet. While it is true that most of the time you will not be asked, the law says you must have the proper papers and proof of vaccines. Sometimes they do ask for them.

I always take my dog with me. I drive back and forth. I always get an International Health Certificate from my vet within 10 days of crossing the border. It states all the vaccines and the vet's statement, "Healthy for Travel". I also carry the dog's up-to-date Rabies certificate. The Rabies Certificate is the main concern of border inspectors, on both sides of the border....and for good reason!

I had never been asked in all the years, until a female border patrol agent got p*ssed at me for being in the wrong lane with my trailer. She was very unpleasant and sent me to secondary just to have my dog papers inspected. By the way, the inspector never even looked at them.

I am convinced that they could quarantine the dog if they didn't like you for any reason. It is best to always be prepared and comply. Your dog may not survive the quarantine, not to mention the inconvenience and unhappiness this could cause you and the dog.

Barry A. - 11-16-2007 at 10:28 AM

My son has been asked several times to show "papers" for his German Shepard by the USA officials upon returning to the USA, at Mexicali, Tecate, and TJ.

It DOES happen. (but his Toyota FJ-40 looks like a refugee from a junk yard---)

barry

oladulce - 11-18-2007 at 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrTom
There can be exceptions for cats (see http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Cats_Dogs.html) but get the health cert and current rabies anyway, unless you want to do a policy search at the border (which you do not).

I keep copies of the US Customs, CDC, and CA "Cat Importation" webpages (along with the associated URL's of the policies) in with our cats' Rabies certificates in case an agent needs to brush up their rules.

Dr Tom-
I was under the impression that an "International Health Certificate" for an animal could only be completed by a specially designated veterinarian and had to have a State stamp on it also. Are there different types of International Health Certificates?

Can our cat vet write up something that says they're in good shape and up to date on their shots?

DrTom - 11-18-2007 at 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oladulce

Quote:

Depends on the state/province and country. In california we had to take another test to be "accredited" to sign health certificates (25yrs ago). In British Columbia we didnt (7 yrs ago) have to. You should be able to get a vaccine certificate if your cats are current on vaccines and get a health certificate from your vet.

oladulce - 11-18-2007 at 10:07 AM

Thank you Dr Tom

Hook - 11-18-2007 at 07:55 PM

My favorite answer was Howard's, who stated that he was very familiar with this topic...........and then revealed he has never been asked at the border for anything! Makes me wonder where he gained all this familiarity........the internet? :rolleyes:

I get the intl certificate for my dog. Very nominal charge from my vet (like five bucks, no office visit charge).

And, yes, I got asked for it for my pure bred yellow Lab. At the Nogales checkpoint by US Customs agents.

ncampion - 12-22-2007 at 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
My favorite answer was Howard's, who stated that he was very familiar with this topic...........

Howard didn't say that he was very familiar with the topic, he just said that in his personal experience he has never been asked. I can say that in 30 years of crossing the boarder, both Baja and Mainland, we have never been asked for a health certificate for our dog(s). We do carry a rabies certificate just in case. It goes to show that nothing is certian in Mexico, everyone has different experiences, the key is to always be as prepared as possible and stay flexible.

rivergirl - 12-22-2007 at 04:24 PM

We have always gotten our international travel certificate for our dog. Over the years we have been asked once at Guerrero Negro on our way down... Handed it to the guy and he looked it over than we were on our way.
We live over an hour from the vet but always go get it just in case it is needed as it is required. Although I must say our dog loves the beach and probably would be happy with us if we left him there so he could fish. (He might not miss us at all, ha.ha.) He cases the little fish back and forth along the shore and can do it for hours non-stop. Last year when we got home, he was angry. It was cold and he started getting into the trash cans & acting up.