bajarickster
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-29-2007
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cats across the border
I'm driving from Coloado to la Paz in a week and will be bringing household items and 2 cats. In researching what I need to cross the border with the
cats, it's all over the place. I know I need proof of rabies and distemper shots and a letter of good health from a vet. I've seen the letter needs
to be signed and dated within 3 days, 7 days, 15 days, 30 days etc of crossing border. I'm crossing at Tecate on Nov 28th. Whats the real scoop??
Do I need the same thing when I return to states in May??
Also will I have any problems with personal household items, dishes, flatware, bedding, towels, etc. Most are new and in box and I have all reciepts.
Sure appreciate any info!
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DENNIS
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I didn't know that you needed pet papers on entry to Mexico. I have been asked for my dog's papers on exit. This is new to me.
How much merchandise are you taking in? If it's a nominal, subsistance amount, take it out of the packageing. If you have enough to stock a
department store, it'll cost you.
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BigWooo
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When we travel to our home in BCS we take our two cats. We've never been asked about the cats when entering Mexico or anywhere along the way.
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Debra
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I wasn't asked about my cat on my last trip going north or south.
At a check point I got alittle worried when even after being warned of the cat in the back seat, the guy reached in to check under some stuff and was
rewarded with a pretty nasty scratch. Luckly he had a sence of humor and said he had been warned about dogs before, but, never expected an attack
cat. 
Mean people suck!
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SkyMedBarbara
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We have taken our Lhasa Apso dog driving across the border both ways the past 16 years and have NEVER been asked for any papers. Did this last time
in Aug.2006 leaving Mexico and coming back to Mexico Sept. 2006 Things change though...you never know... They should have the proper shots
ect.....so it might be best to have the papers with you incase. If you fly you HAVE to have the current papers from the vet. so you might as well have
them driving too.
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oladulce
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Going South
Here's a summarized version from a Mex consular office:
http://www.consulmexny.org/eng/visas_faq.htm
"Dogs and cats
If the pet is under three months of age, it requires a recent Health Certificate. If the pet is older than three months of age, it requires a recent
Health Certificate and Vaccination record (updated, one year validity).
Upon arrival in Mexico, you should bring your pet, along with its documents, to the animal health inspection authorities (Oficinas de Inspección de
Sanidad Agropecuaria, OISA), located at all international airports, and when traveling by car, at border ports of entry. You will easily identify our
logo:
Once the requirements have been covered, an Import Animal Health Certificate will be issued for your pet. If you are traveling with more than two
pets, there is a fee of $1,300 Mexican pesos (approximately $12 US dollars) for the Import Animal Health Certificate, payable at a designated Bank
booth."
Official website:Mexican Dept Agriculture and Animal health
So that's what you're supposed to do. What actually happens is that the Immigration guys (if you need a tourist card) don't come to your vehicle, and
the Aduana (Mex Customs) agents will inspect your belongings only if you get a red light or are claiming items for Importation- and they will not be
going to extra effort to worry about your gatos.
These are the only 2 Officials you will encounter at the border unless you go looking for the Agi office yourself.
The next inspection at Guerrero Negro is for agricultural products and they will want to look in your ice chest or RV fridge if you have one. They've
never given our cats a 2nd glance.
So yes, you are supposed to have papers and certificates for your cats. We have never had anyone care, or ask to see any
documentation for ours, but I keep proof of their vaccines handy just in case.
Returning to the US-
U.S. Customs defers the rules of the importation of cats and dogs to the CDC. The CDC says the following:
"Cats — All domestic cats must be free of evidence of disease
communicable to humans when examined at the
port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good
health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian
may be required at the owner’s expense. " CDC and cats
There can be state laws with more specific requirements for transporting pets- somewhere I've read that CA requires Rabies certificate, so I always
keep those updated but have never been asked for them.
One guarantee upon return to the US, when the Customs/Agi guys in Secondary see the cat-carrier kennels, they ask to see any cat food. If bags of dry
food have been opened, they will confiscate them whether you brought them from the US or not. They have never asked to inspect our cats.
[Edited on 11-18-2007 by oladulce]
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oladulce
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Just found a concurrent thread on pets going on http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=28045
Dr Tom is a Veterinarian and he recommends getting a "Health certificate", but I'm still not clear about the answer to your question about how recent
the certificate needs to be, or if the timeframe is even an issue bajarickster
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DrTom
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health certificates have a shelf life depending on where they are written. The purpose of the certificate is that a particular animal is healthy at
the time the vet sees it. These usually are stated on the form to last somewhere around 10 days. They cant be for an indefinite period of
time....because "someday" the animal is gonna get sick. So theres a window of time. This can be a pain cause if someone is traveling for more than 10
days and the certificate is only good for 10 days, then you need to get another certificate. Health officials are cognizant of this and will often,
but not always, let the traveler pass if the certificate is relatively recent. Depends on their mood, which i find to be a very mercurial situation.
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tortuga
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Mood: Muy Despacio
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Bajarickster
This is out of our Moon handbook "Baja":
" Dogs and Cats can be brought into Mexico if each is accompanied by a vaccination certificate that proves the animal has been vaccinated for
rabies , hepatitis , pip , and leptospirosis . You'll also need a health certificate issued no more than 72 hrs. before entry and signed by a
registered veterinarian ."
This is from the 2004 edition.
Saludos , Tortuga 
[Edited on 11-18-2007 by tortuga]
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