Part of the reason we chose Mexico for our next adventure is that we could drive there.
Scout lobbied hard for Thailand, a place I love, but after all the traveling we did last year, the thought of flying Archie halfway around the globe (again) made me go fetal. The problem wasn’t just the complicated paperwork. It was also the flight time.
Last year when we flew non-stop to Amsterdam, Archie had to be crated for more than 11 hours, an eon for an active dog. He survived, thankfully, but by the time I collected him in baggage claim, he’d had enough of the crate and had started to dig his way out. Poor baby. So 11 hours in a box is pretty much his limit.
Had we flown to Bangkok (including stopover), the poor dog would have been crated for more than 22 hours. That’s ridiculous. I considered adding a week’s layover in Hong Kong as a break for Archie (and street-food glutton fest for us), but that would have involved even more paperwork, expense and logistical headaches.
Driving south of the border was just SO much easier.
(I had to jump through a lot of hoops to bring Archie to Europe. If you’re planning a similar trip and want to know what’s involved, read how to bring your dog to Europe.)
HOW TO DRIVE YOUR DOG TO MEXICO
FIRST: Go to the USDA Plant & Animal Health Inspection Service website. Scroll down to the “Dogs & Cats” section, and click to download a PDF with current rules for driving your dog across the Mexican border.
Briefly, here’s what you’ll need
1. An APHIS Form 7001 health certificate issued and signed by a USDA accredited veterinarian within 10 days prior to export.
The certificate must state:
- The importer/exporter (that’s you, the owner) name and address. Also a destination address. We hadn’t rented a house yet, so we just used a hotel address. No worries.
- That animal has been immunized for rabies (date and expiration of vaccination). Animals under three months are exempt of this requirement, and
- That a previous physical check-up showed no signs of disease.
Time/Money Saving Tip: Get the health certificate done in the border zone (California, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas), and you won’t be required to have a government vet signature (which will probably require Fedexing). In this case your (licensed) veterinarian must use his letterhead and must write his license number in the certificate. Also remember to bring copies of your dogs vaccination records to show the vet.
2. Proof of vaccines against rabies and distemper, administered at least 15 days before the arrival of the pet in Mexico.
There. That’s all there is to it.
Archie was due for a distemper booster, so I had that done in Vancouver before we left.
Because we slow-traveled our way to the border, we couldn’t have our certificate done in Vancouver. Instead, we stopped in Phoenix and saw a vet there, the day before we crossed into Mexico. And I’m so glad we did because this was the best vet office on the planet. Archie is terrified of going to the vet. But these folks were so freaking good, they even managed to take Archie’s rectal temperature, a herculean feat.
(Apparently there are so many aggressive dogs in Phoenix, that these folks know all the tricks for handling fearful dogs. No joke. The vet, Dr. Foster, and her assistants are the kindest yet most effective dog handlers I’ve ever come across. If you are passing through Phoenix, do yourself a favor and take your dog to them. They’re at Banfield Pet Hospital inside of Petsmart – Metrotown/31st Ave. Click that link for their contact info AND a coupon for a free first-time visit, a savings of $50.)
After all that, when we crossed the Mexican border the next day, no one asked or seemed to care about Archie’s paperwork. And of the dozens of people I’ve talked to who’ve driven their dogs to Mexico, no one else has been asked for dog paperwork either. So get it done, but don’t sweat it. Chances are, it won’t even come up.
Are you traveling to Mexico with your dog? Let me know how it turns out!
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
We’re gonna miss you guys. But next time will be in Mexico!
Best,
Kirk, Michelle and Zoe
I have two dogs, and I’ve often wondered if they will be an issue in my future world-travel plans. Here’s my question about driving the dog to Mexico though – what are the restrictions for bringing the dog BACK into the U.S.?
Thanks again for having this…the best mexico dog info on the web! Seriously.
I’m travelling from Phoenix to Melaque, via Lukeville, on 1/8 with my trusty golden-doodle in my toyota highlander. Pet-friendly accommodations were challenging last year – I’d appreciate any tips from fellow dog lovers! Thanks
Hi, Mary. I don’t know if your route is the same as ours, but here’s where we stayed:
1. (Night before crossing) Ajo, AZ…Marine Motel (http://www.marinemotel.com/) They fill up, so a reservation is a good idea.
2. Hermasillo…Hotel San Martin (http://hotelsanmartin.net/). Very nice place, dog no problem (I didn’t mention him, but they saw him.) & a convenient buffet. We reserved a head of time but they’re fairly large.
3. Los Mochis…The Best Western in town doesn’t take dogs so we stayed at one of those adult motels outside of town. Weird, but safe and inexpensive.
4. Mazatlan…Bungalows Mar-Sol (http://www.booking.com/hotel/mx/bungalows-mar-sol.en.html) Friendly owner, no problem with the dog. We arrived late in the afternoon but lucked out with a room. While we were there, a seasonal visitor told us the place is full of long-stay regulars over the winter, so I’d call ahead and reserve if possible.
The next day we reached Guad.
Hope this helps!
We will be taking our 2 geriatric female black labs on a 2 month road trip Feb-April 2013. We plan on border crossing in AZ and understand the Health Cert/Vaccination issues, but are wondering about animal crates. Several web sites indicate they are necessary, but I am thinking that is for airline arrival, not by car. Any thoughts on this? Also, any rules on taking dry and canned food (old dogs, special needs food) into Mexico?
Hi, Liz. Thanks for stopping by.
You’re right, driving is so much looser than flying. You don’t need a crate. In fact I’m in touch with a lot of people who cross with dogs, and only rarely are people even asked for paperwork. When we crossed, we got the red light at customs and they just waved us through without even stopping us! I’m not saying that will be your experience, but still. It’s loose. So skipping the crates is a good call, IMO.
As for food, as long as the bag/can is sealed, it’s not a problem. Theoretically they could confiscate extra bags, but this is SO unlikely. We bought a few big bags of Orijen (sealed), no problem. I did hear of one lady getting hassled and her food confiscated, but she had a bunch of meat for her dog’s raw-food diet.
Renee
My family and I are driving to Mexico for a couple weeks in July and we are taking my golden retriever, and tips?
Hi, Jennifer.
My main tip is to research dog-friendly hotels in advance. They’re much harder to find in Mexico than in the US or Canada. You’ll have better luck at the mom-and-pop hotels rather than the chains. And if you get stuck, the garage-door motels are always an option.
Where are you heading?
Cheers,
Renee
My wife and I drove from Vancouver to Panama last year with our two small pet dogs. We compiled a huge binder of all the essential documentation for border crossings, was never really an issue at the borders and most officials would not ask for it. The only time was crossing back through Belize and the dogs were spotted by an Agricultural official. We showed him the binders with all the requirements that were possible for them to travel. He told us that the binder was impressive and complete however we did not posses his required form so we had to peel off a couple of hundreds to have them obtain entry. He also picked the freshest looking fruits and vegetables from our camper and placed them in his small fridge in his office and bid adieu. It was difficult walking the dogs with us in most towns throughout Latin America gnarly pit bull guard dogs are everywhere and is quite unnerving .
Oh man, the guy pinched your best fruit? That sucks, though I’m not surprised. The dogs in Mexico have been okay for the most part, though they are all loud and barky. When we walk Archie, we have to pass these three rotties behind an old metal gate. When the rotties see Archie, they explode—lunging, snarling and trying to bust through the gate. I’m terrified that one day that gate will come down (it’s barely holding on), and if those dogs get out, Archie is dead. It’s definitely hard to travel with a dog in countries with large street-dog (or guard-dog) populations. I guess things won’t improve if we head further south. Honestly, I love Mexico, but as a dog owner, I really miss Europe. It’s dog heaven.
Thanks for commenting, Rico. Glad to have you here!