BajaNomad

Bring 20 rescued dogs across the US border

Angelos - 3-11-2015 at 02:32 PM

Since moving to La Paz, I have been doing volunteer work at the local dog shelter. Believe it or not, someone is raising money toward the rescue of all the dogs that live along the Pichilingue beach/highway. I believe the count is about 20.

This person wants to have all 20 brought into the US to her home/kennel. So, we at the shelter are helping her by first getting the dogs into our shelter, quarantining them, testing and vaccinating them, sterilizing, etc. and then certifying them for transport.

I've never brought 20 dogs across the US border from Mexico and I have no desire to do this without getting some kind of clearance first. We will be bringing them across via land where we have arrangements for them to stay over night at the San Diego Humane Society and then, via air cargo, they will go to Minneapolis/St. Paul and on to her home and ultimately they will be adopted out.

That's the story. Now, anyone know anyone at CBP that I can talk to in order to find out what I need to do as a private citizen, driving a truck with 20 dogs in it?

I can't get an answer on the telephone, I'm sending email messages, but I can't find any info about crossing the border with 20 dogs.

Need to know if I can do this and what paperwork to have ready, etc.

Thanks Nomads!

bajaguy - 3-11-2015 at 02:37 PM

http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/dogs.html

Maron - 3-11-2015 at 03:57 PM

Angelos,

On behalf of stray dogs everywhere thank you and the person who will get them adopted.

Marla Daily - 3-11-2015 at 04:23 PM

There is an angel in Loreto who privately brings 8 to 12 dogs north in crates in the back of his truck about every six weeks, and he has been doing so for many many years. He drives dogs to California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Oregon to their new homes; sometimes he flies them from LAX to Boston and New York and anywhere else people live who want to adopt a Loreto street dog. He has undoubtedly made a bigger difference to the reduction of street dogs than anyone who has ever lived in Baja. Every single dog he brings across:
1. Is spayed/neutered
2. Has had a rabies shot
3. Has been vaccinated for parvo and distemper
4. Has a health certificate signed by a vet
5. Has been SNAP tested for heartworm and erlichia.
Those who test positive are treated.
Dogs with CTVT are also treated.
His dogs arrive with a clean bill of health guarantee.
He always crosses at Tecate and he knows all the agents and they know him.

Send me a U2U and I will put you in touch.

SFandH - 3-11-2015 at 05:08 PM

Marla Daily, what an amazing person. Tell him a friend in cyberspace and fellow dog lover says thanks.

Angelos, good luck in your endeavor. Post here if you need help at the border (San Ysidro). I may be able to help some way.

[Edited on 3-12-2015 by SFandH]

Whale-ista - 3-11-2015 at 06:30 PM

Angels...bless them!

DENNIS - 3-11-2015 at 06:35 PM


I didn't go through Terry's link too well, but there is a limit as to how many dogs one can cross with at the same time.
Look into that if it's not covered here.

Lindalou - 3-12-2015 at 09:40 AM

Wow, what a feat you are all taking on. Bless you and best of luck.

tjsue - 3-12-2015 at 09:46 AM

If you contact Baja Dog Rescue, and Baja Animal Sanctuary, they can give you more information. You can also post on the FB pages for the Baja Animal Network.

Angelos - 3-20-2015 at 01:17 PM

Thanks everyone for your help. We are now up to almost 60 dogs that w are treating, spaying/neutering, cleaning up and finding rescue facilities and homes for. The cost is really high if we have to do this piece-meal.

We only work with no-kill shelters and we've found enough up in the US to help and even the SD Humane Society will house our dogs temporarily as we get them on US flights to the final destinations.

But I have been through everything I can find and can't seem to locate the limit of dogs or what the requirements are for exceeding the "limit'. We will have certificates and all of the documentation - but I am sure we will get stopped at the border and now we're looking at three trips like this - so maybe when we are done we'll be experts.

But for now if you hear anything - please pass it on. I'm spending my days calling customs brokers and since this is a "Live Animal" thing - I'm not getting any takers.

Oh yes - did contact Baja Dog Rescue and Baja Animal Sanctuary as well - they all said to do them 4 or 5 at a time - but that will take forever and being 1,000 south of the border that's a lot of miles.

Thanks all.

Charlene

mtgoat666 - 3-20-2015 at 02:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Angelos  
We are now up to almost 60 dogs

But I have been through everything I can find and can't seem to locate the limit of dogs or what the requirements are for exceeding the "limit'.

I'm spending my days calling customs brokers and since this is a "Live Animal" thing - I'm not getting any takers.

Oh yes - did contact Baja Dog Rescue and Baja Animal Sanctuary as well - they all said to do them 4 or 5 at a time - but that will take forever and being 1,000 south of the border that's a lot of miles.


If Baja Dog Rescue and Baja Animal Sanctuary advised you to take fewer dogs at a time, perhaps they had good reason, eh?
Perhaps you should find a dog house in TJ to store your dogs, then take them across 5 at a time,...

windgrrl - 3-20-2015 at 05:49 PM

A bit further down south, the local dog rescue organizations may have some advise. Dogs are flown regularly, in singles or groups, to Canada and the USA. For example, the Los Cabos Humane Society has a working relationship with a Canadian rescue organization called Pawsitive Match to coordinate export between their organizations. http://loscaboshumanesociety.com
http://www.pawsitivematch.org

ALMA Humanitaria of Los Barriles posts requests for people to accompany flights that dogs are going north on and use FB and the local electronic bulletin board to find volunteers. I understand that the shelters in the area have a kind of working relationship in support of fostering and finding homes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALMA-Humanitaria-Los-Barriles...

Awesome work,
W

Angelos - 3-24-2015 at 06:20 AM

I can't thank everyone enough for all the suggestions and support. I'm in contact with Aida at Los Cabos now as well as people from all over the Baja. Since we've got so many dogs to get out and so many people are contacting us with help - I know we can do this!

I am so excited that we can rescue these dogs!!!

We have about 25 ready to go once we get transportation in place and then we plan to do this again and get another 30 out once they are, sterilized, vaccinated, treated, certified and we are sure they are healthy enough. Our supporters in the US also want to keep this going to repeat this - so I sure hope we can make a big difference!

We've been invited to the local schools to provided education and training and now the school children are coming out to the refuge on field trips to help out.

I really believe we can make a difference! Thanks so much!