Facts to Know when you are Travelling with your Dog in the Caribbean

Who wants to leave behind their pooches when traveling? Especially not when going to the Caribbean Islands!

Traveling with your dog is like traveling with kids, minus the whining and diaper changing. But it’s fun nonetheless.

Whether you wish to cruise or fly over the Islands, don’t let your little buddy miss out on all the fun! However, they need some potty training and paperwork before going on the vacation of a lifetime

Restrictions on Travelling with Your Dog

Customs at any airport can be exhausting and annoying. They won’t go easy on you just because you have a cute little thing traveling with you.

Caribbean Islands are very welcoming to dogs, except for Saint Lucia’s inhabitants. They are in fact afraid of dogs. On the other hand, people from the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique absolutely adore them.

Caribbean Airlines have their own set of guidelines when it comes to flying pets. Before you embark on your fantasy getaway, consult with the embassy to meet all the necessary requirements.

The Airlines will refuse to have dogs in the cabin or as baggage. Your only choice is to have them in the Caribbean Airlines Cargo.

Jamaica

Almost all the countries in the Caribbean Islands are determined to prevent the outbreak of rabies and other diseases carried by imported pets. Some will ask you for a ton of paperwork, others are quite lenient.

Your dog will be quarantined for 6 months and vaccinated for rabies if you’re traveling to Jamaica.

Barbados

Barbados, on the other hand, is part of the Pets Travel Scheme, and they welcome pooches with open arms.

Despite all that love, your dog will be quarantined for 6 months if it doesn’t have a passport, veterinary certificate, and import license. They even have to be vaccinated, blood tested and treated for flea before traveling.

Dogs being imported from countries other than the UK, Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Vincent or St. Kitts-Nevis need to be quarantined for 6 months as well.

Martinique

Martinique is one of the friendliest countries to go about with your dog. The embassy gives you easy access to its vast natural reserve if they’re assessed and certified with good health free of diseases.

Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands

Your dogs will need a health certificate issued by a vet to travel to these places. The certificate should not be older than 2 weeks.

Many hotels and inns, restaurants and stores will allow entry with your dog

St. Maarten

The rule here is the same as Puerto Rico. But the certificate cannot be older than 10 days.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Doggies need to be quarantined for 6 months to explore the Vincentian waters.

Trinidad & Tobago

Before entering Trinidad and Tobago, dogs must be declared to Customs. The Veterinary Service Divisions will issue a permit so that your pooch can have fun in the islands.

In addition, your dog will also need an Importation License 3 months before traveling to the Caribbean paradise.

Unfortunately, dogs can’t walk or play on dry land. Don’t change your plan because of this though. Try doggie backpacks when traveling in countries with heavy restrictions.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia’s people are so afraid of dogs, they have laid some tough rules for our little friends.

1. Dogs need to have a microchip implanted in order to be able to identify them
2. They need to be vaccinated as they reach 3 years of age
3. They can only enter St. Lucia 6 months prior the blood test
4. They must be treated against flea 48 hours prior arriving at St. Lucia

Anguilla

You’ll only need permission from the Agricultural Department to get your dog in here. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The British Virgin Islands

People here are big on controlling the spread of rabies, so they have rules to prevent this.

Dogs from the US and Canada are the reason for the outbreak in this region, so they must go through vaccination and checklist to have access.

 

Essentials to Carry when Travelling with your Dog

Snorkeling gear, swimsuit, and goggles won’t do for your Dino or Fluffy. Finding the right food for them may be a challenge, so it’s better to pack some extras with you.

Check with your vet in advance before traveling since you may not find a vet nearby when Dino or Fluffy is sick. Pack up with flea sprays and get a pet CPR training as soon as possible.

A lot of pets go missing while traveling. Registering your dog with GPR and getting it a microchip will give you peace of mind while travelling with your dog.

Pet Import Permit is required wherever you travel in the world with your dog. If you’re traveling from the States, you’ll need the USDA Form 7001 for your dog. If you’re from the UK, it needs a UK Passport to take trips.

Furthermore, if you’re going to take your pet buddy on yachts and boats, you must be prepared for a ton of paperwork.

Lastly, some other essentials for your dog on tour are water, leash, first aid kit, safety restraints, tags, vaccination records, health certificates, blanket, and toys.

 

To Sum Up 

When travelling with your dog, it may seem like dogs need more paperwork than us in order to travel, but don’t give up so easily. At least you don’t have to worry about them consistently when you leave them for a business trip or a social trip.

Consider all the cost associated with asking your neighbors and friends to take care of them while you’re away.

In the meantime, if you’ve been lazy about your dog’s health checkup lately, you have a chance to get them done before the trip.

Despite the hassle of getting Dino and Fluffy through Customs, trust me they will be grateful for the experience they’ll be having in the Caribbean Islands. Have fun and make lots of memories. And Instagram A LOT!

Author Bio:

Shawn is a content writer at FeedFond. He’s a doting father not only to his two children but also to his two Golden Retrievers. Check out more of his articles at FeedFond.com.