BajaNomad

Dog Detained in Immigration

karenintx - 8-6-2009 at 04:45 PM

This happened to our good friend as he was going through Immigration at SJD airport.

His Rat Terrier dog “Butchie” has flown 19 trips to SJD so both Butchie and Daddy Mike know the ends and outs of flying with a dog in the cabin of an airplane and also going through SJD airport… that is until this last trip.

We were sitting at the bar waiting for both Mike and Butchie to arrive, when Mike appears without the dog. He tells us that the Immigration Officer told him that Butchie’s vaccination record had expired. Mike pointed out that in the USA there is a three-year vaccine and Butchie’s vaccination is good through May 2011. The officer told him “Mexico requires a vaccination every year so if you want to take your dog into Mexico you will have to have a Vet come to the airport and give him a rabies shot.” Mike downs a cold cerveza then goes back to Immigration. A few minutes later he reappears with Butchie pulling him toward the door…seems someone needed a potty break. On his way back in we asked “They actually let you take the dog outside?” He replied “They keep my FM-3 & passport!”

About 15 minutes later the Vet walks through the terminal with a small cooler in his hand...five minutes later Mike, Butchie and the Vet walk out together. Total cost was only twenty bucks, however by the next day Butchie was a little under the weather. We don’t know if it was the (extra) vaccine or if it was the afternoon at the beach playing fetch with his favorite tennis ball in the water. Within a couple of days he was back to being “Buthcie”. Mike talked with his Vet in the US and was told on the next trip they will give him a letter (record) that shows an annual vaccination.

DrTom - 8-6-2009 at 06:27 PM

id recommend just getting the annual rabies vaccine. mexico changed its requirement to annually. you will also need a health certificate from a mexican licensed vet soooo......just get the rabies from the mexican vet and the health certificate (good for 10 days) from the vet in san jose where youre leaving from.....by the way, the vaccine in mexico is the same as in US or canada.....the same vaccine is used annually or every 3 years, in dogs and cats and the only difference of whether its one or 3 yrs is the jurisdiction requirement of the area the vaccine was given...Theres lots of background pressure because of the h1n1 virus issue and bioterrorism.....its not going to get better....


[Edited on 8-7-2009 by DrTom]

BajaBruno - 8-6-2009 at 06:58 PM

My wife has had this problem the last couple of years when taking her dog into Mexico City's airport, so it's not just in SJD. At least there, they accept a health certificate from a US vet. It is not a problem when flying from one Mexican airport to another Mexican airport, at least in her experience.

bajaboolie - 8-7-2009 at 08:37 AM

Interesting, thanks for the information. Will this be a problem with car travelers as well?

Not sure we'll be bringing our wimpy dog much anymore b/c she seems to have a comfort level between 68-75 degrees, otherwise she's miserable. She's the only dog I know who didn't like Mexico! Anyway, I'd like to bring her down again....

bajasammy - 8-7-2009 at 08:41 AM

We've taken our Dog by car dozens of times and have never been asked for paperwork. We do carry our Vaccination certificate just in case.

But maybe things will be changing?

karenintx - 8-7-2009 at 08:46 AM

Since we do not travel with a dog I can only repeat what "Daddy Mike" explained to us.

He has never had to get a health certificate from a Mexican Vet to leave Mexico. It may be that way if you live in Mexico but he is coming "in" from the US. Once they are in the country the only questions he gets comes from the airline he is departing on. He again shows the vaccination certificate from his US vet. The problem was Mexico does not recognize a three-year vaccination. Which is OK...it is their country.

The way to get around the Mexican annual requirement is before getting the three-year vaccination (in the US) is to explain to your Vet what Mexico's requirement are and you will be traveling with your animal. Ask if the Vet will be able to help you out with a letter stating the animal "is protected with a vaccine for the that year. I am willing to bet that "any good Vet" will not have a problem with your request. This is a littel extra work on their office but this is why you need to have a good relationship with your Vet.

Don't know much about dogs as we have cats. If you have ever had a animal that developed "injection-site Sarcoma" from annual vaccination, you then go to a three-year vaccination.

I know lots of people travel with their animals and hoped this information would provent them from having the same problem.

karenintx - 8-7-2009 at 09:01 AM

Bajasammy - I would agree things maybe be different when traveling by car, but then as we all have experienced...not only can things change from one day to the next, it also depends on who telling you what's legal and what's not legal.

I think this was the first time "Butchie" got a three-year vaccination and the first time for this to happen to him when going through Immigration. The letter was dates were for May 2008 - May 2011. Butchie was in Cabo San Lucas April 10th - May 15th which would explain why there was no problem on his last visit.

Doug/Vamonos - 8-7-2009 at 10:21 AM

We travel (drive) with two dogs. Never a single problem in either direction. I quit carrying papers years ago. We have also transported Baja dogs back to the states on a few occasions, which added up to three dogs in our car, and still no issues. Just lots of potty breaks.

DrTom - 8-7-2009 at 12:53 PM

im a vet licensed in calif and canada and am a partner in a mexican practice about 2 miles from the san jose airport, so im pretty sure im accurate here :)
need a current health certificate and a rabies vaccine given within a year to fly out of sjd.....now depending on the customs agent, that may vary, but not because the regulation will vary. the 3 year vaccine in calif is the same vaccine as the annual one in mexico.....it just depends on the regulation of the country of the inspecting agent. same thing happens in us and canada. they are much more relaxed if travel by car.....but the regulations are the same for a given country.

DENNIS - 8-7-2009 at 12:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Doug/Vamonos
We travel (drive) with two dogs. Never a single problem in either direction.


I've been asked more than once when entering the US. As nasty as they can sometimes be, I figure it's best to not upset them. No telling what they're empowered to do to one's dog without proper papers.

BajaGeoff - 8-7-2009 at 01:23 PM

We brought back a 10 week old pup from Erendira last weekend. We told the agent that he did not have his shots yet, but that we were bringing him back to get him adopted here in the states. She checked him out and sent us on our way without any problems. Not sure if that would happen every time though...but I also think dogs are pretty low on the priority list with the US agents. That said, we did manage to smuggle some fleas across on the pooch! Thankfully, he got a bath, his shots and is now flea free.

Anyone want a puppy?

karenintx - 8-7-2009 at 01:56 PM

Hey Dr. Tom,

I don't understand your post, are talking about "a custom agent" at SJD when you are leaving the country? If so the only custom agent they see is when they are doing the paperwork for their FM-3 and they are not interested in vaccination papers. According to them Butchie has never had to "getting approval or inspection" from an agent when leaving the country...only when entering.

I know others that travel with their dogs that do have the annaul vaccination and when they leave SJD the only person concerned with the animal is the ticket agent.

As far as the custom agents in the USA...well what can I say. I do agree with Dennis about what they maybe empowered to do. We have an other friend that brought is Father's dog back from Amsterdam. As he was coming through IAH the custom agent asked "Is this your dog?" Gerry answered "Yes". The agent then looked into the dog carrier for a couple of seconds and said "Well he looks pretty healthy to me...continue on." Gerry said he never asked for papers.

No se!


.

DrTom - 8-8-2009 at 11:10 AM

in sjd, the ticket agent actually performs the customs requirements for aduana (customs) ie they take your fmt or process your fme (ie walk you to customs) if you have an fm3....so they are the front line in the customs requirement. i take my mini doxie with me all the time back and forth and i show the health cert and vax certs to the ticket agent. i know its really hit and miss.....i also know that my partners are OFTEN called to go to the terminal to give a rabies shot and health certificate for non compliant tourist owners of animals going to the us.....so ive seen some pretty choked gringos waiting for the vet with the cooler, trust me, but if youre the gamblin type, go for it....theres a lot of disconnect between whats required and whats done in mexico.....

[Edited on 8-8-2009 by DrTom]

Shot

BajaRae - 8-9-2009 at 07:37 AM

This is what my vet told me...
I gave my dogs shots from Baja and when I got home took the info to my vet ..
He said that the shots are a live virus, and he couldn't believe that Mex would do that, are shots are a dead virus. The Mex shots are not honored here....
For the dogs sake ....take papers to get them home without an issue.
I don't fly with my dogs...so as far as dealing with the Mex gov....guess you got to do what you got to do....hope this helps....

Hook - 8-9-2009 at 08:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaRae
This is what my vet told me...
I gave my dogs shots from Baja and when I got home took the info to my vet ..
He said that the shots are a live virus, and he couldn't believe that Mex would do that, are shots are a dead virus. The Mex shots are not honored here....
For the dogs sake ....take papers to get them home without an issue.
I don't fly with my dogs...so as far as dealing with the Mex gov....guess you got to do what you got to do....hope this helps....


That's interesting..........DR. Tom????

DrTom - 8-9-2009 at 02:46 PM

rabies vaccines are only either modified live or killed virus. we all use either....no such thing as a live virus vaccine....that would be called the "disease"......im ok with mod live or killed.....but we have a tendency to use killed cause i think we see fewer vaccine reactions.....all the mexican vets i know use excellent quality vaccines (same companies as us and canada)..and do a fine job of vaccinating. i honor the vaccines given by licensed professionals (veterinarians) and so do all the vets i know. and really its not up to the individual vet to "honor" the vaccines, the issue of whether they are valid depends again on the public health/animal regulatory jurisdiction......ie there is a list of the applicable vaccines that are considered immunizing, each country, state, province etc puts it out.....so ask your vet if the mexican vaccine is on the list..... ok, before this becomes a credential inquisition, i am a dvm, california graduate, licensed in bc, calif, ore, wash and also have a masters of preventive veterinary medicine from UCDavis......

DrTom - 8-9-2009 at 02:51 PM

heres the california list....just google it and anyone can get it.

California Department of Public Health
Compendium of U. S. Licensed Animal Rabies Vaccines - 2008,
and Their Application in Animals Under the California Rabies Control Program

[Edited on 8-9-2009 by DrTom]
you know i should build a "taking your pet to mexico page"


[Edited on 8-9-2009 by DrTom]

BajaRae - 8-10-2009 at 07:11 AM

My vet was really put out by the fact the rabies shots were "live".
I brought him the package...so he could read it.
He said that he wouldn't sign off on that for a license renewal....
I have been going to Baja for most of my life....about 50 years give or take...always taken my dogs and really never had a problem...I do make sure I have current paper work...would just die if one of my dogs got taken from me...or held for any amount of time.
Anyway I just get my shots here in San Diego at my Vet's....
one of my dogs had cancer and I wish I could get away with NO rabies
Have a great day.....Rae