We have been dreading bringing her to Mexico, anticipating that the experience would be ridiculous and complicated. It didn't help that the relocation company gave us a quote for them to ship her down to us for over $3,000...closer to $4,000 if we wanted that company to pick her up and deliver her from the airport(s). Said company also said they don't recommend you taking your dog thru customs without them. But, since my husband's employer wasn't footing the bill...we thought we'd take our chances and try and save a couple grand!
Prior to our departure, I called American Airlines three times and checked their website a couple more times. The website ended up being the most helpful, as it seems that is what the AA check-in people were using to guide them. But, calling was also imperative as the people on the phone were able to tell me what Mexico's customs would require.
In the end, I was told I needed a health certificate (not issued more than five days before departure), a rabies vaccination certificate, a certificate showing the dog is free from ECTO and ENDO, and then a letter from the vet stating the dog can fly if the weather is below 45 degrees.
In other departure city or arrival city, the temperature is not supposed to be below 45 degrees or above 85 for the dog to fly. I was very concerned about this, until I saw the information on getting a letter. Then, I became worried because Mexico City has been having very warm weather - mid 80's!
I was also told the cost would be $175, payable at the check-in, via credit card. And, food must be taped to the crate, with water and food dishes inside. The crate must also be a certain size, allowing the dog to stand up and turn around. PLUS, the dog and crate together can weigh no more than 100 pounds.
So...the day before our flight, my husband and our dog went to the vet. $400 later, with some Heartworm meds and allergy pills, we had the rabies vaccination and health certificate. Apparently everything but the rabies shot verification is on the "international health certificate". Very handy...and costly!
Regardless of how prepared we thought we were, we headed to the airport early. My brother drove us and we had him park and help us carry everything inside. Good thing, as he was instrumental in helping wrangle the dog, the baby, the luggage, and the crate!
The check-in line was very short...until we got up there. We caused a bit of a backup, since it took the AA attendants over an hour to check us (mainly the dog) in. They had no idea what was needed. I'm not sure if they'd ever checked a dog in before. So, they kept looking everything up on their computers. Then...they broke out the tape measure. The tape measure, or how the woman was choosing to measure the crate, almost ended Molly's journey.
She said the crate was over the allotted size and that it wouldn't fit into the plane. She told us we would board the plane and if Molly didn't fit, we would be taken off the plane and would miss our flight. A bit stressful.
In the end, the crate was NOT oversized. When measuring height, the tape measure should go straight up...not follow the curves of the crate. So, the crate was the last piece of luggage loaded onto the plane and the first thing off, to Annie's delight! Annie was sitting with me on a window seat, with a perfect view of them unloading the baggage. "Molly's crate! I see Molly's crate!"
Once we cleared immigration and got our bags, I set out to find someone with scissors, who could cut the zip tie that AA put on the crate door. Four people later, Molly was cut loose and walking thru the airport... until someone quickly told us dogs are not permitted to be out of their crates in the airport. So, she had to go back in, while we waited almost an hour for Mexico's animal customs to clear us...during which, at some point, she peed in her crate, as there are no designated places to let your dog go outside and find some grass.
In the end, the process for bringing the dog to Mexico City was long and tedious, adding several hours to our time in the airport(s). Would we do it again? Yes. But, will we take her every time we travel back and forth to the U.S.? NO!! ...especially when I have just learned of a dog kennel in Mexico City that comes highly recommended and that will pick-up and drop-off your dog, bathing her before the drop off!
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