Dogs to Guatemala?

[MikeJinCO]

At the vets office they had a new health form(2012 I think) for taking pets into Guatemala that is very extensive would be very hard to comply with going from Mexico. Has anyone had any difficulty taking dogs into Guatemala the last year or so? We are leaving home in early Nov and are thinking of going to Boqueron Canyon near Lake Izabel in probably late December or early January. We will probably be crossing the border near Tenosique MX on the way to Flores and Tikal.

[JeffersonCamper]

MikeJinCO wrote:
Frank summed it up quite well. From what the vet said this or a similar process is fairly common in Europe. Trying to pull that off in Mexico is almost laughable. We'll follow the wanderer's advice. Besides, what good is a plan if you can't change it?

I had my RV in Europe over the last 8 years and we took our dogs with us when we went over to travel. Except for the last embassy step, it is the same process.

However one is usually flying to Europe, so the short time frame between paperwork and arrival are immaterial- but when spending time overland in Mexico, you're likely to exceed the time window.

As I said, AFAICT, most RVers with dogs appear to not do any of the paperwork - just using what they used to enter Mexico.

[MikeJinCO]

Frank summed it up quite well. From what the vet said this or a similar process is fairly common in Europe. Trying to pull that off in Mexico is almost laughable. We'll follow the wanderer's advice. Besides, what good is a plan if you can't change it?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Don't take the 30-days requirement too seriously. Border officials everywhere live and die by bureaucratic paperwork.

Prepare a dossier on the pooch using a manila folder. Inside, have color images pages of the animal (which won't hurt if it gets lost).

The vet's forms. And an image of the dog's USA collar rabies inoculation (dog) tag.

When it comes time, the official will ask for the form, give a big smile and hand over the manila folder.

So far this has worked incredibly well, even with an official by the name of Hector at La Mesilla, who is notorious with dog hassles (he is said to hate them).

Good luck and please report your own experience,

[tony_lee]

The difficult part would be complying with the 30 day recency rule if you first spent 40 days in Mexico

[JeffersonCamper]

The following is copied from a 2004 Guatemala government info document.
It seems that when entering in your own vehicle by land, that most travellers don't have anything more than a rabies certificate. Of course, you're taking a chance of being denied admission.

BRINGING YOUR PET TO GUATEMALA
• You must first take your pet to a U.S. registered veterinarian for a
health certificate stating that the pet has been examined, shows no
evidence of communicable disease, and has been vaccinated for
rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. The
certificate must be executed within 30 days prior to the animal's
entry into Guatemala. Not all U.S.-based veterinarians can perform
certification, so be sure to check first that your veterinarian can
provide or recommend someone for this service.
• Then take or mail the health certificate to the nearest office of
the Department of Agriculture in the United States that approves
health certificates for pets.
• After the certificate has been approved by the Department of
Agriculture, you will need to have it authenticated by the
Guatemalan Embassy or a Guatemalan Consulate in the United States.

[4X4Dodger]

Check the embassy of Guatemala web site for exactly what you need. If necessary call them.

But what I dont understand is why completing this form is so difficult?

Can you give some more details.

[Talleyho69]

It's been 6 years since we entered Guatemala with our dogs and cat. At that point, no problem, all they wanted was rabies for the dog, and nothing for the cat.
I'd query Guatemala directly. Have a great trip!