I've received several PMs asking about how we moved here with our 100lb golden retriever (yes, he's huge--and a great security dog--in the eyes of the locals) and two cats. Here is one of my replies for those who want to know. There's more to the dog story but this particular response was to several who wanted to know specifically about cats.
"Any advice on travelling with pets. How were they treated on the plane? (assuming you brought them from the U.S) Any comment would be great!!"
My REPLY:bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny:
I have warn you that bringing our pets down was harder than bringing our kids! They all needed a special vet certification with all vaccinations including rabies (which is endemic here with 12-15000 cases/yr) and tags. The forms are some special international travel form. After the vet certifies their health, that form must be sent to the Dominican Consulate closest to you in the US. They then have to stamp it. Now HERE's the tricky part...we were defrauded of $180 because we were in a rush and someone called us from the DR consulate in Miami and said we had to send a money order or cashier's check...we did and then found out that is total BS!
So, that part was a pain. Our dog--since he's 100lbs and they count a crate for weight couldn't go on the regular plane. He had to go by a special pet mover. And, the pet mover wouldn't allow them to take him on unless the temp on the ground was under 85 (in MIAMI in June.) This part actually went smoothly as we arranged to drop Zen off the night before our early morning flight. We were apprehensive but he did well. We were very happy with their service and care and would use them again in spite of the expense (which was substantial).
The cats came on as "carry-on baggage" in soft-sided ventilated pet bags. My dh took one and I the other. We drove 1000 miles before flying and our normally totally mello cat was a feakazoid so the tranqs the vet gave us were used in small doses on him. Our half main coon who is a great huntress of lizards here--was fine on the drive. HOWEVER, we didn't tranquilizer for the flights. Here's what happened...everything was going well or at least as well as Miami International can go. Then they made us take the cats out of their carry-on bags to put the carriers through the x-ray. Well, the idiots put the cat bags thru LAST and made us walk through special 'sniffer' machines that puffed big blasts of air at us. My drugged out slug of a cat named GORDO, did fine but our huntress (Xena) completely lost it. She dug her claws into dh and climbed up his neck and face. I'm laughing now but he was spurting blood all over and the cat was on top of his head. He grabbed her, ripped her down while screaming at the security people (we know how effective THAT is) and tried to contain her. She escaped his grasp running like a bat out of hell into the glass security doors. The MIA security closed down all of the section we were in and the head of security was called. Meanwhile I'm desperately trying to capture my wild Xena was running into glass walls everywhere. Dh is bleeding all down his pale colored shirt while the security chief comes storming out asking "WHERE'S THE GUY WITH WITH THE CAT?" while looking straight at him.
As all of this is going on, Jim's other carry-on was pulled for screening. They wanted me to watch them go through the bag while I was climbing around pulling our cat out of the underside of a security machine while she had her claws deeply imbedded in their new carpet. The poor thing was terrified and I felt stupid for not giving her the tranquilizer.
Mr. Bigshot security chief was actually yelling at Dh while Dh was trying to calmly request the security tapes. Security chief said "I've already pulled them and you're not seeing them."
After Dh bought a new shirt (he looked like the mob had hit him and really couldn't get on the plane that way) we barely made it to the gate on time. Of course we then sat on the run way for quite awhile.
Once on the plane, the cats were fine. I'm glad we brought soft sided carriers because they require them to be able to fit under the seats and one of ours had very little space. I also had brought some Greenies for cats (alfalfa treats which they love) and cat nip.
We landed in Las Americas and had to go through the immigration and customs routine; then go get our checked baggage (initially, we--5 people, 2 cats and 1 dog--moved down here in a total of 10 suitcases, each under 50lbs). Ahh, but just as we thought we were "home-free" a woman from behind where they take your customs form summoned us over to "inspect" the cats, take our forms and EXTRACT more $ from us (I believe it was $20USD per cat--which we were later told was BS because we had already had their certification and forms.)
Sigh...and I don't ever want to think of what we'll have to do to get them BACK in the US. Our cats love it here, as does our dog. The cats' fur is luxurious from all the lizards they eat (entertainment and a meal.) I've actually taken to saving the poor lizards because I think our cats are too good at catching them.
We could sure use a vet volunteer down here. IF you aren't a vet, maybe you'd like to volunteer at the orphanage I volunteer at: NPH International - Caring for orphans and abandoned children
We (NPH) are going to be getting laying hens soon (bad timing with avian flu but they need the eggs). There is always room for caring volunteers on this island.
My advice is to be excessively prepared and calm while traveling with pets and kids; it helps to have two adults going if you have more than one animal.
Paz y salud,
DrChrisHE
"Any advice on travelling with pets. How were they treated on the plane? (assuming you brought them from the U.S) Any comment would be great!!"
My REPLY:bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny:
I have warn you that bringing our pets down was harder than bringing our kids! They all needed a special vet certification with all vaccinations including rabies (which is endemic here with 12-15000 cases/yr) and tags. The forms are some special international travel form. After the vet certifies their health, that form must be sent to the Dominican Consulate closest to you in the US. They then have to stamp it. Now HERE's the tricky part...we were defrauded of $180 because we were in a rush and someone called us from the DR consulate in Miami and said we had to send a money order or cashier's check...we did and then found out that is total BS!
So, that part was a pain. Our dog--since he's 100lbs and they count a crate for weight couldn't go on the regular plane. He had to go by a special pet mover. And, the pet mover wouldn't allow them to take him on unless the temp on the ground was under 85 (in MIAMI in June.) This part actually went smoothly as we arranged to drop Zen off the night before our early morning flight. We were apprehensive but he did well. We were very happy with their service and care and would use them again in spite of the expense (which was substantial).
The cats came on as "carry-on baggage" in soft-sided ventilated pet bags. My dh took one and I the other. We drove 1000 miles before flying and our normally totally mello cat was a feakazoid so the tranqs the vet gave us were used in small doses on him. Our half main coon who is a great huntress of lizards here--was fine on the drive. HOWEVER, we didn't tranquilizer for the flights. Here's what happened...everything was going well or at least as well as Miami International can go. Then they made us take the cats out of their carry-on bags to put the carriers through the x-ray. Well, the idiots put the cat bags thru LAST and made us walk through special 'sniffer' machines that puffed big blasts of air at us. My drugged out slug of a cat named GORDO, did fine but our huntress (Xena) completely lost it. She dug her claws into dh and climbed up his neck and face. I'm laughing now but he was spurting blood all over and the cat was on top of his head. He grabbed her, ripped her down while screaming at the security people (we know how effective THAT is) and tried to contain her. She escaped his grasp running like a bat out of hell into the glass security doors. The MIA security closed down all of the section we were in and the head of security was called. Meanwhile I'm desperately trying to capture my wild Xena was running into glass walls everywhere. Dh is bleeding all down his pale colored shirt while the security chief comes storming out asking "WHERE'S THE GUY WITH WITH THE CAT?" while looking straight at him.
As all of this is going on, Jim's other carry-on was pulled for screening. They wanted me to watch them go through the bag while I was climbing around pulling our cat out of the underside of a security machine while she had her claws deeply imbedded in their new carpet. The poor thing was terrified and I felt stupid for not giving her the tranquilizer.
Mr. Bigshot security chief was actually yelling at Dh while Dh was trying to calmly request the security tapes. Security chief said "I've already pulled them and you're not seeing them."
After Dh bought a new shirt (he looked like the mob had hit him and really couldn't get on the plane that way) we barely made it to the gate on time. Of course we then sat on the run way for quite awhile.
Once on the plane, the cats were fine. I'm glad we brought soft sided carriers because they require them to be able to fit under the seats and one of ours had very little space. I also had brought some Greenies for cats (alfalfa treats which they love) and cat nip.
We landed in Las Americas and had to go through the immigration and customs routine; then go get our checked baggage (initially, we--5 people, 2 cats and 1 dog--moved down here in a total of 10 suitcases, each under 50lbs). Ahh, but just as we thought we were "home-free" a woman from behind where they take your customs form summoned us over to "inspect" the cats, take our forms and EXTRACT more $ from us (I believe it was $20USD per cat--which we were later told was BS because we had already had their certification and forms.)
Sigh...and I don't ever want to think of what we'll have to do to get them BACK in the US. Our cats love it here, as does our dog. The cats' fur is luxurious from all the lizards they eat (entertainment and a meal.) I've actually taken to saving the poor lizards because I think our cats are too good at catching them.
We could sure use a vet volunteer down here. IF you aren't a vet, maybe you'd like to volunteer at the orphanage I volunteer at: NPH International - Caring for orphans and abandoned children
We (NPH) are going to be getting laying hens soon (bad timing with avian flu but they need the eggs). There is always room for caring volunteers on this island.
My advice is to be excessively prepared and calm while traveling with pets and kids; it helps to have two adults going if you have more than one animal.
Paz y salud,
DrChrisHE
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