Thanks for all the advice. It sure is helpful. I did a little digging on the Guatemala Embassy site, and found a document saying that we have to get the USDA certified US vet health certificates authenticated through the Embassy or closest Consulate of Guatemala. So I called to see where that was. The Embassy forwarded me to the Denver Consulate. I called them, explaining my plan. They said that the authentication was unnecessary and the US vet health certificates would be plenty. I guess we take their word for it.
Take my word for it too, it is not necessary. On my first trip my final destination was Panama so I had the Panamanian cosulate stamp my papers before I entered Mexico, in San Diego. Sure it was nice to have that extra stamp and certification but was not required at all. In fact when I did hit the border for Panama, I still had to pay a small bribe! The AG guys do not know all the rules for a dog. The consulates are not going to have accurate up to date info too. Every time I have talked to a consulate they told me I needed things that never mattered. A lot of what you will be told is for people who fly down with their dog or are moving to the country with their dog. Last time I went to Panama I skipped the consulate stamp, it made no difference at all. All you need is the USDA form filled out by your vet and stamped by the USDA plus a rabies certificate also stamped by the USDA. Make sure the dogs get a rabies vac right now even if they had one in the last 6 months. The newest date rabies vac is the one you want the USDA to certify.
I gather from talking to my vet that they can create the certificate at their office for us. If I understand your comments correctly, the vet office cannot stamp the documents though. That has to happen by the USDA at their office?
Yes your vet should have the USDA APHIS form. Most vets will have not likely filled one out in a long time if ever though! If they don't have the form get it from the USDA, it is a cabron copy of like 4 sheets. Since your vet may be unsure exactly how to fill it out and since the USDA can be picky, this is why I suggested faxing it off before mailing. Plus you are on a time limit here if I am not mistaken so a botched form will delay you.
Here's another fun item. The research I did on Mexico stated that the examination had to be within 72 hours of entering Mexico. Right.
Cheers,
Mexico doesn't care about dogs at all. Even if you ask at the border they won't tell you to do anything. I don't ask now, I just bring my dog into Mexico. You will have the forms so if somebody hassels you (a cop) you are covered. A cop tried to bribe me once in Tampico over my dog but I refused him since I had all the right docs even though they had no Mexico stamps on them. The police officer had no idea he was just trying to use my dog as a way to bribe me. If you read up on the internet (gov websites, consulates, ect) it tells you when you bring your dog back into the USA the pet has to have another recent rabies vac. That is not true. Twice now I have come back into the USA with my dog, the last time I told the officers I was out of the country for 4 months with my dog. Both times the USA border side officers said nothing other then take him for a walk and let him pee on the lawn over there while we search your truck.
So don't worry. Just get the docs you need and the other ones I mention in previous posts if you can. You are really only going to need the docs for Belize, Guatemala doesn't care although it does vary border to border and who you talk to at borders. If they want you to go stamp the docs at the AG office, no biggie. Watch out for scams at the Guatemala border depending on which one you cross. I know somebody who was scammed and then robbed at the border along the Pacific Coast over car insurance. I was scammed entering Belize from Mexico. Chances are though you will not encounter this.
Oh and take about 5 copies of all the documents. Yes you can get copies at borders but it is just simply better to carry some copies. You will be all set and will have a great time with your dogs down there!
Buddy in Baja....
Here is Buddy leaving Belize and entering Eastern Guatemala....
Buddy on the road...
Buddy off the coast of Panama heading out to camp on an island for a week...
Buddy in Costa Rica...
Buddy in Antigua Guatemala....
Buddy in Honduras...
and Buddy in Panama....
Here are my friends Ben & Megan with their two little girls and two large dogs! This is right after they entered the USA and after spending more then 3 months with the family plus dogs living in Costa Rica.
Buddy has spent more then 7 months on the road in Latin America in the last several years.
