Costa Rican Living

Thinking about moving to Costa Rica? Costa Rica is an incredibly beautiful nation with a lush and green landscape. Also, thanks to the lower cost of living and laid back environment, it is becoming an increasing popular destination to move to. Costa Rica also boasts friendly locals and a thriving diverse culture. If you are consideration moving to, or are already planning your upcoming move to Costa Rica, here is a list of the import rules and requirements to make sure your four-legged friends can come with you!
Note: Before beginning the import procedures, make sure that your vet is approved by the Government Veterinarian Authority in the country of origin. For example, if an animal is departing the United States, the vet will need to be USDA Accredited.

Requirements:

1. Pet Immigration Form: Ahead of time, obtain a pet immigration form from the Ministry of Agriculture (M.A.G) in Costa Rica. The form cost 20,000 colons (roughly $40.00) and is good for a one-month period from date of issue. Have this form with you when you pass through customs at the airport in Costa Rica.
2. All animals need to have Full Vaccinations:
   • Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Leptospirosis, (DHLPP) Corona Virus, Parainfluenza, and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 30 days before arrival.
   • Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP), and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 30 days before arrival.
3. International Health Certificate: Your vet should have these in stock. It’s a good idea to call ahead and ask. This is an international health certificate that needs to be completed by your vet within 10 days of departure. This form need to also state that the US is free of African Horse sickness and Rift Valley Fever and that your pet(s) have not traveled to regions affected with these diseases.
   Note: Depending on the logistics of your particular pet relocation and the specific health certificate being used (APHIS Form 7001) an additional USDA Endorsement maybe required on this health certificate. Speak to your PetRelocation.com specialist regarding the USDA portion of this process.
4. Pet Quarantine Permit: The quarantine permit must be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Control ("Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia"). It costs $22.00US (twenty-two U.S. dollars) per pet. You can file for this permit prior to your pet's arrival through a Custom Agency, in person if you are already in Costa Rica, or through a third party that represents you.
5. A personal letter stating pet's market value or a document that proves it, such as an invoice.
6. USDA Endorsement: The below referenced forms:
   • Pet Immigration Form
   • International Health Certificate – APHIS Form 7001
   All documents above must be sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval. Please contact your PetRelocation.com representative on the best way of handling this.
7. All original documentation must travel with the pets.

Planning ahead and taking these steps into consideration should make your move go smoothly and as stress free as possible!

Keeping Your Pets Safe During New Year's Celebrations

Because of their heightened sense of hearing, many of our furry friends often find New Year’s celebrations a rather terrifying time that could cause potential injury or worse. According to the RSPCA’s chief veterinarian, Dr Magdoline Awad, fireworks are especially dangerous to animals, stating that “dogs in particular are scared of the noise and often injure themselves while trying to escape and unfortunately many are killed.” Furthermore, these loud sounds can also damage animals’ highly sensitive ears.

At this time of year, pets pulling Houdini acts are unfortunately quite common. Along with the fleeing from fireworks, other reasons our animal companions turn into escape artists include loud parties, people going in and out the front door, and increased anxiety in the first place due to a disrupted routine.

During the festivities, you may want to take some extra considerations towards your pets’ needs and daily routine. These are some things to do ahead of time to prevent dangers and mishaps:

• In case your pet does run away, make sure to have your pet microchipped and keep current tags on their collar.
• If there are children around, make sure the pet does not get teased with noise-makers or fireworks.
• Remind all your guests to keep the doors closed.
• During noisy times, keeping your pets, their beds, and plenty of treats, in a quiet room with soft music may limit the noise and anxiety.
• Consider keeping your outdoor cats inside at night during this time.
• For those of you with horses, consider not stabling them at a location where they will be subject to excess noise from fireworks.
• Try taking your dogs out on a few extra walks for some calming one-on-one time before and after the celebrations. If throwing a party, give them a little break during the noisy festivities.

Taking these extra precautions will help limit your pets’ stress and ensure everyone makes it to the new year happy and healthy!

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Relevant Articles:
Protect pets from fireworks: RSPCA
Happy Holidays with Your Pets
Holidays present dangers to pets
New Year's parties are full of perils for pets

Pending "Pet Tax" Proposal in Japan

In an effort to protect domestic animals, politicians in Japan are looking to propose a new pet tax. The funds will be applied to a pet identification program, aiding shelters, and an animal welfare campaign.

Animal-loving Japanese face new 'pet tax'

Politicians are about to propose a unified tax on the purchase of pets that would enable the authorities to improve pet safety and minimise the number of abandoned animals.

While the government is struggling boost the nation's dwindling birth rate, the pet industry is booming across Japan.

Worth an estimated one trillion yen (£7.5bn), the number of pet dogs in Japan has doubled to more than 13 million in the past decade -­ a figure that eclipses the number of children under the age of 12.

Japan has a host of pet-friendly services for the nation's four legged friends; from dog cafes, fashion shows and yoga classes, to cat reflexology, dance sessions and on-line pet networking sites.

However, the rise in pet ownership has gone hand in hand with a surge in cases of mistreatment and abandonment, with 374,000 pets taken off the streets last year by local government authorities, 90 per cent of which were put down.

As a result, Kunio Hatoyama, the internal affairs and communications minister, has led a group of politicians to tackle the issue by formulating a proposal for a nationwide pet tax.

Funds raised from the pet tax will be used to finance the promotion of animal ID tags and internal microchips, the operational expenses of animal shelters and a campaign to highlight animal welfare among pet owners.

A new policy limiting the number of abandoned pets taken in by local authorities to around 210,000 by the end of 2017 has also been imposed by the Environment Ministry.

Pet Travel Prices- Expect A Hike

The price of traveling with your pets has never exactly been cheap, but apparently things are about to get pricier as airline expenses are on the rise:

Airfare Watchdog Reports Rising Expense of Pet Travel

An airfarewatchdog.com poll reveals that 58 percent of respondents believe that pets should be allowed in the cabin, while 42 percent would ban them entirely. Airfarewatchdog points out some reasons why flying a pet may become not just more difficult but also as expensive as flying an additional person.

Frontier Airlines banned pets from the cabin on June 9, 2008, and now charges up to $400 to fly pets in the cargo hold. Delta and American Airlines have recently raised their in-cabin pet fee to $300 -- up from $200. United has raised its in-cabin fee to an industry-leading $350, and $500 for cargo. For years, Southwest Airlines, one of the nation's largest, has banned pets entirely except for fully trained assistance animals accompanying a person with a disability or being delivered to one. “At $350 a trip, we might be better off enrolling Browser, our canine mascot, in some hang gliding courses, or -- if the fees keep going up -- tie some helium balloons to the kennel, toss in a tracking device and hope for the best. His chances of an on-time arrival couldn't be any worse than on some airlines,” said George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.

Published on Travel Technology

Crate Training- The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Pet

Getting your pets acclimated to their crate is by far the single most important thing you can do to help relieve the stress of your pets during their move. Crate Training is a simple process, especially for dogs, and its purpose is to provide 'confinement' for reasons of security, safety, housebreaking, protection, travel or illness.

You may think that putting your pet in a crate is mean or inhumane and might cause your pet to resent you or to be psychologically damaged. However, dogs view the world differently than people. As your dog sees it, the crate is a room of it's very own - a "security blanket" or "comfort zone" if you will. The crate helps to satisfy the "den instinct" inherited from his den-dwelling ancestors and relatives. Your pet will feel secure, not frustrated, once accustomed to its crate.

Puppies are often the easiest to crate train, however many times our customers are relocating adult pets. Older dogs are just as easily trainable, but you must introduce the crate in a slower manner. You cannot just put your dog into the crate and hope they will adjust.

Your pet's first association with the crate should be a pleasant one. We have found that the following tricks work best when getting your dog acclimated to their crate:

• Before you begin with the crate training, it is best to place the crate in the room most used by the family or next to the pet's food. This will allow him to associate with this new piece of 'furniture' and its addition to their personal space.
• First, remove the door from the crate! Many times, the swinging door is what scares the pet the most. Encourage your pet to enter voluntarily by tossing a treat into the far end, praising them enthusiastically once they enter, then letting them come right back out.
• Over a brief period of time, install the door back onto the crate but secure it open so it does not swing freely. Once your pet enters the crate confidently, coax it to lie down and relax, using food, if necessary. Shut the door briefly, while you sit beside the crate or when there are people in the room.
• When you feel your dog will remain quietly in the crate, leave him alone for 15 - 30 minutes. If all goes well, you can leave him for longer intervals. While traveling, your pet will be in its crate for a long period of time, so it is best to practice longer and longer intervals.

Crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog's age, temperament and past experiences. It's important to keep two things in mind while crate training; one, the crate should always be associated with something pleasant; and two, training should take place in a series of small steps- don't go too fast.

Greek Life

With a dry, sunny Mediterranean climate and surrounded by clear blue waters, the coastal resorts and scenery of Greece make an ideal relocation destination. While the fantastic food, drink, and friendly local people add to the attraction, Greece has an incredible heritage that covers all areas of refined culture, political ideas, science, mathematics, and philosophy.
Some great examples are the Arcadian ruins, historic monasteries, and castles of Cyprus where legend has it that the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, rose from the sea. Or visit the Messinian Peninsular where you can discover the archaeological heritage of the area.
If you are interested in outdoor recreation, spend some time along the Greek coastline. There is so much to do at many of the resorts along the entire Greek coastline you won’t find time to get bored! There’s windsurfing, sailing, and bike riding to mention just a few activities. Also enjoy a day trip to the southern tip of Greece by car and don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch for everyone, including your family pooch!
Greek hospitality will welcome your loveable furry friend, but do check first, perhaps by enjoying some strong black coffee for yourself and a water for your thirsty four-legged companion after a leisurely stroll around one of the coastal towns.

Greece Import Rules and Requirements:

Following these steps in the order provided will ensure that your pet arrives Greece safely and avoids any, and all, potential quarantine time.

1. Microchip: Each Pet shall be identified by means of a microchip. No other form of identification is acceptable. The microchip used should comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785- otherwise the pet will need to be sent with it’s own scanner attached to the top of the crate.
2. All animals need to have Full Vaccinations: Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Leptospirosis, (DHLPP) and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 4 weeks before arrival.
   Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP), and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 4 weeks before arrival.
3. EU Vet Health Certificate (Form EC#: 998): This is the standard Health Certificate to be filled out by your accredited Veterinarian. This certificate is valid for 4 months prior to departure date so do not get this issued too early.
4. USDA Endorsement: The below referenced forms:
   • Microchip Implantation Record
   • Rabies Certificate
   • EU Vet Health Certificate
   Must be sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval.
5. Greek Consular Endorsement (must be obtained following USDA endorsement): The below referenced forms:
   EU Vet Health Certificate
6. International Health Certificate: Your vet should have these in stock. It’s a good idea to call ahead and ask. This is an international health certificate that needs to be completed by your vet within 10 days of departure. Depending on the logistics of your particular pet relocation and the specific health certificate being used (APHIS Form 7001) an additional USDA Endorsement maybe required on this health certificate.
7. All original documentation must travel with the pets.

Planning ahead while keeping these considerations in mind should make your upcoming move to Greece go as smoothly and stress-free as possible!

My Pet Move Weekly Feature

This week's focus is all about holiday traveling with your furry friends- get updated flight information and checkout some helpful tips and guidelines! Current Airline Information:

Air Canada's Pet Travel Information

Air France's Pet Travel Information and check your flight's status

Sign up for Alaska's flight status alerts and updated holiday pet travel information

Continental's Travel Information and traveling with animals guidelines

KLM's latest flight information

Lufthansa's flying with pets information

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Helpful Tips and Guidelines: Traveling With Your Dogs

Are you planning on flying home for the holidays? If so, and if you're taking your dog, there's good news. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport doesn't expect a big crowd this year. With gas prices down, many people who are traveling are going by car. Hartsfield-Jackson spokesman John Kennedy says traffic at the airport is expected to be fairly normal through Dec. 24, but he says it can be difficult to predict holiday traffic.

Airlines Ground Snoopy

Some pet owners hoping to fly with their four-legged friends this holiday season may need to consider other transportation options as Canada's two largest airlines announce blackout periods for some pet travel.

Flying abroad? Here's some information on the PETS Passport Scheme

Sometimes a holiday just isn't a holiday without Rover coming too, but how can you fly him out, what's it going to cost and what do you need to do to arrange it? Since the introduction of the PETS passport scheme, flying with animals has become much easier. Read on for all you need to know to get your beloved pooch safely into the air.

JetBlue offers deals with JetPaws Program

Pets on jets can add up to award points for passengers who fly on JetBlue Airways with their small dog or cat, the carrier said this week. The JetPaws program features Travel Petiquette for canine travel companions and extra TrueBlue points for pets... Read more about JetPaws from DogChannel.com

Moving to Dubai?

Due in large part to an astounding economic boom in the region, there has been a growing trend over the past few years of people relocating to Dubai and other parts of the UAE. Dubai possesses a wonderful mix of traditions and cultures, ranging from Arabic and Asian to European and American. And the best part is that Dubai lets you be yourself, letting you live your life the way that you want to. It’s no wonder that Dubai is generally amongst the top ten holiday destinations recommended by most travelogues. Whether people want to be a part of such a thriving city for business reasons or just because they want to experience life with another culture, Dubai has definitely become one of the places to be. The scenic beauty of its coasts and beaches are always inviting, its malls are a shopper’s paradise, and the world class business centers, hotels, and resorts make sure that it is the place where the rich and famous meet to strike mega deals.

If you're thinking about moving to Dubai and would like to bring your pet, here's a little information to help ensure your animal companion makes it there happy and healthy!

First, your pet will need to be implanted with in an international microchip by your local vet. You will also need to make sure that your pet is up-to-date on all its current vaccines – especially rabies. Please note that “up-to-date” means that the vaccinations must be at least 30 days old from the date of travel.

Once these requirements are met, you must apply for an Import Permit. These can easily be obtained from the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water once you have all the required documents in place. This ensures that your pet can be relocated to Dubai without having to undergo any quarantine procedures.

Finally, you will need an official health certificate issued by or attested by a government vet from your country of departure. This health certificate needs to be issued within 10 days of departure.

Also keep in mind that, while vaccination of pets and the attachment of a Municipality ID disc to your pet’s collar are mandatory in Dubai, sterilization is also encouraged due to the ever growing population of strays. Furthermore, the rules and laws pertaining to pets are very accommodating and the government provides veterinary services at extremely affordable rates.

Complete First Hand Account- Tailer Comes To San Francisco!

Many people are easily overwhelmed with the process of how to pull off a successful move, especially when it is an international one. Tailer and his guardian, Anders, just recently accomplished their move and documented the entire process- from the vet visit to arriving in their new home- in a effort show everyone out there who might be contemplating tackling such a feat that although there are a number of issues to take into consideration, it can absolutely be done!

"Thanks to those of you who have been offering your support and good wishes to Tailer and me. Knowing that there were people and cats out there pawing for us made the trip much more manageable. We both hope that this little glimpse into the transport of a cat from one far away land to another has been helpful and/or entertaining. We’re glad to have had you along for the ride."

Here's the complete first hand account of Tailer's move from Sweden to San Francisco.

Sedation Is Just A Bad Idea

Many people ask if they should give their pets a little sedative prior to the flight. The short answer to this is: "No! No Way! Not Under Any Circumstances!" According to the American Veterinary Association (AVMA), air transport of sedated pets may be fatal. Over sedation is the most frequent cause of animal deaths during airline transport and accounts for more than half of all deaths when flying. Except in unusual circumstances, veterinarians should not dispense sedatives for animals that are to be transported.

Little is known about the effects of sedation on animals that are under the stress of transportation and enclosed in cages at 8,000 feet or higher, the altitude at which cargo holds are pressurized. Additionally, some animals react abnormally to sedatives. Although animals may be excitable while being handled during the trip to the airport and prior to loading, they probably revert to a quiescent resting state in the dark, closed cargo hold, and the sedatives may have an excessive effect.

The effects of sedating drugs are unpredictable when combined with air pressure inside an aircraft, which are equivalent to 8,000 ft altitude. At this pressure, the physiologic changes from sedatives/tranquilizers may be enhanced. There have been a number of instances where sedated pets traveling by air needed veterinary care to recover from the sedation. Some pets could not be revived. Occasionally, owners have given repeated doses to ensure a comfortable journey for their pet. When questioned by airline personnel, many owners claim that their veterinarians had advised them to do so.

Although sedatives/tranquilizers should never be repeated for animals traveling by air, sedated pets may have adverse reactions in pressurized aircraft even when single doses are administered at recommended dosages. Animals can respond very differently to sedatives/tranquilizers under normal circumstances. Cats for instance, occasionally become more excited following the administration of "sedating" drugs…

"An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation," noted Dr. Patricia Olson, a director of the American Humane Association (AHA). "When the kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury."

JAVMA, Vol 207, No.l 6, September 15, 1995.

Increased altitude can also create respiratory and cardiovascular problems for dogs and cats that are sedated or tranquilized. Brachycephalic (pug or snub nosed) dogs and cats are especially affected.

Insight, May/June 1997.

Rather than tranquilizing, pre-condition your pet to its travel container! According to the Air Transport Association, "As far in advance of the trip as possible, let your pet get to know the flight kennel. Veterinarians recommend leaving it open in the house with a chew bone or other familiar objects inside so that your pet will spend time in the kennel. It is important for your dog or cat to be as relaxed as possible during the flight."

My Pet Move Weekly Feature

The My Pet Move feature of the week is the hero dog in Chile- going back to rescue his friend, this really is an extraordinary story:

“Hero” dog brings to light Chileans’ attitude to pets

A recently released video of highway security film footage showing the heroic rescue of one dog by another on a busy Chilean highway is causing a big stir both in Chile and abroad... read more

Proper Planning is Key!

The most common problem people run into when attempting to move with their furry family members is failure to plan properly. Given the level of detail involved with figuring out just how to pull off a successful move, advanced planning is crucial to ensure you won’t run into any last minute problems that could lead to a large amount of stress, or worse, not being able to bring your pets along. Here’s a brief overview of the main items to take into account:

To Fly or Not To Fly?

First off, you will need to decide whether to fly your animal companion or to use ground transportation. If moving long distances, flying is really the best way to go. By using a pet-safe airline, flying is much safer and less stressful than ground transport. Make sure to ask your airline representative what type of pet program they have in place to avoid any problems that could arise, thus giving credence to all those horror stories that frequently circulate.

In addition, rather than being stuck in the back of a truck for days on end, your pet will only have to endure a couple of hours. Also, most ground transporters charge by the mile, round-trip, so it is often cheaper to fly your pets.

Furthermore, do not sedate your pet under any circumstances. Nine times out of ten the tragedies that happen in the air are due to people sedating their pets. By limiting your pet’s ability to react quickly and regulate their own respiration, you run the risk of injury which could potentially be fatal. The way to avoid an overly stressed out Fluffy is proper crate training, not knocking them out.

Pet-Safe Airlines

Pet-Safe airlines aim to make the flight as safe and stress free as possible. These airlines do not treat your pets as a random piece of baggage, rather, your pets will be kept in a climate controlled environment, not be left out on the tarmac in harsh conditions; be the last ones on the plane and the first ones off; and the staff will ensure they always have plenty of water.

Rules and Requirements

If moving within the United States, your pets will need a rabies certificate stating they are up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations and a health certificate issued by your vet stating they are in good health and ok to fly. The certificate is only valid for 10 days, so it needs to be issued within that time span before the travel date. If moving internationally, there are more import requirements, which vary from country to country, but generally speaking you will need an international health certificate, vaccinations and blood tests, and all of these will need to be endorsed by your state’s USDA office. For specific country requirements, please feel free to ask us for the details.

The Most Important Item – The Right Crate

By far, your pet’s travel crate is the most important item in this whole process. Proper crate training is crucial. Your pet will be spending a good amount of time in its crate during the move, and if they already associate their crate as their “safe place”, the move will go smoothly. The crate should be big enough for your furry one to be able to stand up and turn around with 2 inches of clearance from the top of its head to the top of the crate.

Keeping these four things in mind when planning your move is a great start to ensuring everything goes smoothly. Just take a deep breath and remember not to project your anxiety onto your pets and everything should go fine. A move is stressful for everyone involved, but proper planning goes a long way!