Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 09:34:14 -0700
Reply-To: PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Subject: Taking Dogs & Cats to Mexico
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Since several volks have asked:
Taking dogs & cats into/out of Mexico is a snap!
Your animal must be innoculated for the routine things,
& you must have a certificate from your vet dated
no more than 30 days prior to crossing border into
Mexico. Always check with your vet re timelines.
There is a standard form which all vets
normally have on hand.
It is rare for Mexican border officials to bother
asking to see these papers, but get them anyway!
US Customs has never asked to see my papers.
Most foreigners traveling Mexico in vehicles have
dogs--or even cats.
Don't even consider taking your pet bird!!!
My African Gray Parrot, Juba, despite my having
paid numerous fees, filled out many forms, & had
the USDA-required testing done, was not readmitted
last May when I tried to cross back into the US.
Juba lives with Mexican friends when I am in the
US, & is now bi-lingual, tho I still hope to repatriate
him...
Dogs are fun to have along in Mexico--except in few
instances, dogs are allowed on beaches & even in
informal cafes & restaurants.
Hotels frown on dogs, but I have found that small
dogs are almost always tolerated.
My dog Stella, an eleven pound Pug, would never
stand for being left behind! And she's a good watchdog.
Once, she even bit a surly federale who tried to board
my van, armed with an M80.
Keeping dogs cool in parked vehicles is a challenge.
I've solved this by closing curtains & using several
of the big, cheap, silver quilted sunshads in windows.
Use your skylight for ventilation & do as I did, &
install a solar Powervent in the skylight as well.
I also found a "Canine Cooler" helpful--it's essentially
a water & foam filled pad, ordered from most dog
fancy magazines. Worth the money.
Keep your dog away from Mexican street dogs,
who are seldom innoculated & carry mange & fleas.
If not already doing so, use the "one drop per month"
flea & tick products such as Frontline or Advantage
.
Vets are plentiful. My Pug got pneumonia this Jan,
shortly after I arrived in the chilly highlands following
a month on the warm Pacific coast. Thru word of
mouth I quickly located a wonderful vet. He
examined her, started her on antibiotic shots, &
kept her 3 days in intensive care--for a total of
$43 dollar.
So, take the pooch along! You'll both have fun.
Good luck,
Phaedra
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