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Yes…by all means, bring your pets with you. They’re part of the family and not something that have to be discarded at will, depending on your lifestyle. All one needs to bring their pet into Mexico is a bit of paperwork:
1. A vaccination certificate stating that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies, hepatitis, pip and leptospirosis.
2. An official health certificate that must be issued by a veterinarian no more than 72 hours before entering Mexico stating that the animal has no communicable diseases.
Any veterinarian should be able to provide this for you. Our veterinarian in Kansas City had all the proper paperwork to fill out…we didn’t have to take any special forms with us.
However, since we had plans to travel a bit throughout the United States before crossing the border, we also needed to have our dachshund Lucky checked out in Laredo so the health certificate would be current. The veterinarian checked our papers from our local veterinarian, gave Lucky a brief check-up and signed a new health certificate for us so our papers would be up-to-date when we crossed into Mexico the next morning.
No permit or visa is needed. And, thank goodness, no quarantine! That would have definitely been a deal-breaker for us.
And, if you’re a part-timer, all you need to take your family friend back into the United States is another health certificate and a rabies certificate not more than thirty days old.
There is a wide choice of veterinarians in Mexico and definitely at Lakeside, and, believe it or not, they do make house calls!
Now let’s talk about perception versus reality…the official word is…U.S. visitors to Mexico may bring two large pets (dogs or cats) or up to four birds by presenting the above required certificates at the border.
However, our friends Peter and Elaine brought five large dogs and three cats with them and had no problem whatsoever. I’ll let them tell you their story in their own words:
When we asked at the Mexican Consul in Indianapolis, here is what they
told us to have prepared, and what happened:
(1) We had to get our veterinarian to provide a document stating that all the dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies. This vaccine had to have been given within 30 days prior to entering Mexico.
(2) Also the document stated that the pets were in general good physical health.
Our vet had the forms already and he knew exactly what to do and what was needed. We did not have to get an "import certificate" of any kind.
We had heard all sorts of weird stories too, like "you are only permitted two dogs; any more than that you have to pay an extra fee per dog." Also, "cats may not be permitted, so you have to sneak them in", etc. etc. Being a little nervous about taking so many animals into Mexico, before crossing the border at Laredo, I asked a clerk at immigration if my paperwork was correct. Also…did we need to get it stamped, certified…anything like that…from their office? After looking it over, he said, "Everything is fine…you don’t need any additional paperwork"… then he laughed, shaking his head, "Man, I'd hate to have your pet food bill though!"
Crossing With the Critters...
Even after all the assurances we received, we still approached "The Checkpoint" with apprehension. This is the place where you drive through the gate and get a red or green light. Peter went through first and, of course, got red-lighted...so they had him pull over. (Yikes!) I nervously went through and got a green light, but, of course, I had to pull over anyway. The guard said I could go ahead, but… having lived in Mexico previously and able to speak fairly good Spanish…I was able to explain that the car in front was my husband's and I needed to wait for him.
The guards then walked over to Peter’s SUV, which contained five large dogs and three cats. The dogs started growling and barking ferociously, hurling themselves at the windows. I'm thinking..."Oh golly darn(!)...something awful is going to happen now." To my relief, the guards started laughing, and just asked Peter a few questions. Then one of them came over and asked me, "So, what do you have in your car?" (It was packed completely full.) I just smiled and responded in my most polite Spanish, "Food for all of them, SIR!"
The guards cracked up laughing, motioning both cars on though, "Andale, andale...."
The irony of this is after getting all that paperwork from the vet, we were never asked to show it. However, I'm glad we had it!
As one expat says, “In 20 years of chauffeuring pets back and forth at least three times a year, I've never been asked for documentation on either side of the border. However, I would still urge you to arm yourself with paperwork....the one time you decide to wing it, someone is sure to ask you for it!”
Or, as we all say here, “When in doubt, bring it south.
One thing to be sure of though, if you’re renting an apartment or a house, make sure you know whether pets are permitted or not. Many apartments and homes in Mexico either prohibit certain types of pets or set stringent restrictions on the size and weight of the pet—especially where dogs are concerned. Restrictions can also apply to cats, so make sure you sort out the details before signing a contract or a lease agreement.
Bringing a Horse to Mexico
There are lots of regulations and certificates about bringing horses to Mexico, but it must not be too hard, because lots of people we know have done just that…this is a great place for riding horses, even in the middle of Ajijic Village! Therefore, since the requirements are more detailed, you may want to check out the latest information: Import Health Requirements for Importing Horses to Mexico from the USA to get more details. (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/mx_eq.pdf)
Bringing Birds into Mexico
If you plan to bring your bird into Mexico, your bird may be imported as a pet as long as you comply with APHIS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife requirements. These requirements may include quarantining the birds at one of the three APHIS' Animal Import Centers at your expense. You must make advance reservations at the quarantine facility. If you intend to import a bird, contact APHIS for complete details.
Bringing Other Pets into Mexico
Other common pets such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs may be imported if they are in good health. The importation of reptiles and invertebrates is restricted; please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for additional guidance. Most species of snails are not admissible. Contact APHIS for additional information.
Bringing Pets into the United States
Importing animals is closely regulated for public health reasons and also for the well being of the animals. There are restrictions and prohibitions on bringing many species into the United States. All regulations cannot be covered in detail, and regulations are subject to change. If you plan to enter the U.S. with a pet, contact your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy or the specific agency mentioned.
Hopefully we’ve allayed any fears you might have about bringing any of your pets with you. Don’t leave home without them!