QuestionHi,
I will try to keep this as concise as possible.
1) I am thinking of getting a Teacup Yorkie 2-3 lbs
2) We travel full time
3) We are from Canada, would most likely get the puppy in the US and we are currently living and traveling in Belize until May 2008
4) We then plan to travel by bus through the rest of Central America
5) After that we plan to travel and live in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Laos and Seychelles.. from there we will see...
I have done a lot of research, my husband thinks I am crazy to want to take a dog traveling. I know that some of the places we plan to go have restrictions or quarantines, etc. However, I am being optimistic in thinking that 'most' places we plan to go in this world will allow pets to be imported? With ALL of the necessary paperwork?
My other concern is where the dog is coming from, we will be coming from a different country each time. Example, Belize to Guatemala to Honduras, to Nicaragua etc. When they say some restrictions are based on where the dog is coming 'from' do they mean where they last were or where they were born? I need to know this, as it will have a tremendous affect on my research.
I truly appreciate any info and feedback on your part. I really want a dog, and I really want to travel. Is my plan crazy? We stay in each country 4-6 months , so I have lots of time to do the research and paperwork before heading to the next country. I personally think it would be worth it, hubby however does not like the idea at all.
Thank you in advance, I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Cindy
AnswerHi Cindy,
Thanks for your inquiry. This is going to be ultimately your decision but I would ask you to keep the following in mind:
1) Frequency of travel - You say you will be staying in each country for 4-6 months. In Central America this will not be too big of an issue, as their rules are pretty much nonexistent. However many Asian countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia, have very strict rules about how long pets must have been in another country before they can be imported. For example, Thailand requires that a pet has lived in the same place for the previous 6 months.
2) Health Paperwork - You also must keep in mind that you will need government health certificates for each country you go into, at the very minimum. If you are living somewhere remote, it could be difficult to fulfill these requirements. Also, Indonesia currently has a very strict rule on what countries pets can come from (they are trying to become rabies free). You can see the list here: http://www.expat.or.id/info/pets.html
3) Affect on your pet: Traveling and moving around may be something enjoyable for you, however it can be very disruptive and detrimental to your dog's health in the long run. Yorkies are a bit fragile (we actually are currently boarding two here for 6 months while they wait out the quarantine for entry into Japan). The effect of traveling will really depend on the dog you get and its personality.
To answer your question as to where the pet is coming from, they mean if you are moving from Belize to Guatemeala, your dog is coming "from" Belize, no matter if he originally was from the US.
Knowing what I know about pet travel, I can tell you that if I were you, I would not get a dog. You will likely spend more of your time researching a country's import requirements than you will being able to just enjoy your dog. Perhaps in your travels you could instead research local pet rescues or, if not available, implement animal shelters in various countries. I am sure you will come across many stray dogs and this could be a way to help spread your love of animals while also continuing to travel.
Best of luck to you!
Kind regards,
Rachel Farris
Rachel@PetRelocation.com