Bringing my Saint Bernard to Costa Rica

[micolea]

My spouse and I will be moving to Costa Rica in 2011. Our long hair Saint Bernard will be 8 years old. The flights plus the airport transits can take up to 12 hours. Can anybody provide any insights?

[Andrew]

Have you searched for the various threads on this topic already? There are many…

It’s understandable that you should be concerned about bringing your four legged friend here but thousands of pets have made the journey to Costa Rica with few problems.

Please look above and click on where it says ‘Search messages’ and type in pets or dogs and you’ll see that many people have discussed this and made numerous suggestions that will help you…

After reading through these if you still have some pressing concerns, please do come back and ask us your specific questions and we’ll try to help.

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

[BigB]

Hi Micolea,

My wife breeds Bengal cats and we ship them all over the world with no problems, we have had a problem with Huston in the summer because of the heat, and the winter some flights are not heated so you have to wait until there is a heated one, I guess it depends on where you are shipping from and what time of the year, but it should be no problem as long as all paperwork is in order.

Brian

[Kevy]

Hi Micolea,
I tried searching and didn’t find anything helpful. I have a Leonberger (175 lbs)
and a 45lb mix. If we move to C.R. I am thinking of driving to Miami (from St.Louis) and having them transported from there since it is the shortest flight time I could find to C.R. We are currently researching this. I would like hear from anyone who has
shipped an extra-large dog because some airlines have a 100lb limit for a dog in cargo. Plus, he’s my sweet baby boy and I am very worried and need reassurance! Trish

[BigB]

Hi Kevy,

We use Sea Air International out of Toronto and they do have a satelite office in the U.S. (www.seaair.ca) if you give them a call I am sure they could be of help, at least point you in the right direction. if you call, ask for Jeff or Gyneen and say Brian and Sheila referred you.

[micolea]

Thanks BigB for the Sea Air Link, I will check with them. We live in Canada and would probably board our dog in Montreal. I’m worried about all the waiting at the airports plus the lenght of the flights.

The posts I have seen talk about having an international vet form completed and stamped by USDA. How about Canada, who does the stamping?

[BigB]

Hi Micolea,
First you have to go to your Vet and get a International Health Certificate, then you have to bring that to a Federal Vet to have the paper work checked and stamped by them. It is about $20 for the regular Vet and $20 for the federal vet. If you talk to your vet , they will be able to tell you what vacinantions Fido needs.
I know Air Canada does direct flights to San Jose, but Sea Air will be able to tell you all you need to know about flights, vacinations etc.
Brian

[micolea]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the information, I will check it out. It’s strange you say that Air Canada does direct flights to San Jose because it’s the second time we go to CR with Air Canada and there are no direct flights from Ottawa or Montreal, they have to go to Toronto and from Toronto to San Jose.

[BigB]

Hi Micolea,
Yes only direct from Toronto and you cannot go to Liberia with pets as they have no “federal” vet there, but there may be other direct flights on other airlines, Sea Air will fill you in.
Brian

[micolea]

Thanks again Brian for your help.

[Author]

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