Traveling

Traveling With Your Rescued or Adopted Animal

Taking/Adopting an animal off Island can be one of the best solutions to help a dog or cat because there are no ‘NO KILL shelters’ on the Island of Puerto Rico accepting animals that we are aware of.  The only shelter we know of accepting dogs and cats in the Western PR area is a KILL shelter – Villa Michelle,  They do work to adopt animals out but it is a KILL shelter (787) 834-4510.  On the Eastside of Puerto Rico try the Human Society

If you need some helping hands in the process try Ebenezer Dog & Cat Shipping Services,  Rincon Puerto Rico & Traveling Angels & Rochelle Desiree Pet Transport & Pilots N Paws

5 Steps to Travel & Helpful Information

1) Call YOUR Airline of choice to learn their specific rules & routes

Each Airlines has different rules – you can also ask for help in the groups in the above paragraph.

2) Get the Vet documents required by your specific airlines

The airlines, animal and destination set the services required.   If you need a local Vet referral please see our Vets page.  In our experience it is best to get puppies a BORDETELLA vaccination too.  Defensa animal’s have been sterilized, vaccinated and fecal done before adopting.  If you need help with these services with your rescued animal you can use our Open Rescue Program

3) Get a Carrier | Purchase or Borrow

Always defer to the airlines for their specific crate rules.  The internet has many resources for helping animals to be comfortable in crates.

4) Getting the animal to the Airport

Ask the specific airlines AHEAD of time how they accept payment and everything that is needed at the time of check-in

5) Picking an animal up from the airport – If Not Traveling Together or In Cabin

Ask the specific airlines AHEAD of time what is needed for pickup – i.e., ID, where you go exactly, etc.  We suggest you bring to the airport an old towel, plastic bag, wipes, harness/collar, leash, food/water/treats and bowl (for water)

Estimate of Costs

Remember these are ONE TIME FEES and you are likely saving the animals life – once home you can Keep, take to No-Kill Shelter or Market For Adoption .

  • At a minimum you need a Vet issued Travel Document, normally around $25 to $50
  • Crate/Carrier –  Range from $40-300 – ask to borrow one from the Rincon Puerto Rico fb group
  • Airlines Flight  – Range from $100+ for small carry on animals to $370-PLUS for large animals.

Some thoughts

A Puerto Rican street dog’s breed can be very subjective – find out what breeds are allowed and see if you and the Vet can try to stay away from mistakenly using a breed that is not allowed to travel on your airline of choice.  The breed will be asked for when booking the flight and need to be written on the paperwork you get from the Vet for travel.

Flights are priced by weight of animal + crate.    Have the agent weigh the dog + crate *before* you put the water and food in/attached to crate.  Just a few lbs could save you money if it puts you over a threshold.

If your vacation time allows, have the animal spayed/neutered before returning to the States. Again, Veterinarian services are less expensive in Puerto Rico.  You can use our Open Rescue or Mision Esterilizar programs if you need financial help

Dogs must be able to stand up and turn around in the kennel. Don’t put a big dog in a kennel that is too small for him.

They Airlines may say to put torn up newspaper in the bottom of the kennel to absorb any accidents – this can work but if possible we recommend ‘wee wee pads’ as they don’t have ‘chemicals’ as newspapers might.  at the bottom But you can use shredded newspapers and a towel to keep them warm.

Attach a zip lock bag with food in it to the top of the kennel if airline allows

Put an empty bowl in the kennel for food if airline allows

Put a bowl for water in the kennel – the water bowl can be frozen the day before this way it lasts the whole trip as it melts  OR Attach a hamster water feeder to the outside of the kennel so the animal can drink while in travel if possible. Ask your airlines if this is required – it is not always required but nice if the airline allows

Airlines – CALL YOUR AIRLINES – Flights & Rules Change – If you question the answers the Airline Agent gives you, call back to get another Agent or ask for a Supervisor – We find not all Agents know the rules on animal travel.

Check Flight has no weather cancellations BEFORE YOU GO.   Animals have regulations on temperature – both at departure and at destination.  Sometimes an airline will know way in advance if animals can NOT travel due to heat or cold.  Ask about ‘acclimation’ letters from the Vet.   Ask the airline if the Vet allows the animal to travel in hotter or colder weather than the airlines will they allow an acclimation letter from the Vet.

The closest airport to Rincon is Aguadilla BQN.   The only airlines currently flying from BQN are United, Spirit and Jet Blue.

Where to buy a crate and other animal items around Rincon Puerto Rico?

  • If you aren’t in a hurry one rescuer tells us … “it is cheaper to order from Petsmart’s website for store pickup than it is to buy in the store. In store, it(a medium size) was $79.99. Online it was $69.99 and then they had a $10 off online orders discount to bring it to $59.99.”
  • PetCo in Aguadilla at the new Marshall’s Plaza – 2 towards Aguadilla, pass the turn off for the Aguadilla Airport/107 and immediate next ‘calle marginal’ (or little side road that looks like a turn off/driveway).
  • PetSmart by the Mayaquez University
  • Walmart 787-834-2280 – take the 115 to the 2 South – look for the Mayagüez Mall on the left – about 30 miles from Rincon
  • KMart  take the 115 to the 2 South – located in Home Depot and Sam’s Club shopping center
  • Any ‘Feed Store’ on the side of the road might sell one too.   Rincon Feed Store is located on the 115, in the Plaza with YognFruz and Sandwich Delight.   Aguada Feed Store is  787-868-2810  Take the 115 from Rincon, North – until you hit the one way street into Downtown Aguada, Turn Right at that 4 way stop, before going into Downtown Aguada – Alexi’s store is about the 3rd on the Right. Gps 18.380363, -67.191954 on Google Maps. Located around the corner from Aguada Animal Medical Clinic where you can get a Travel Health Certificate.
  • Ask on Facebook to borrow or use one.  Rincon has a large group called ‘Rincon Puerto Rico‘ you should ask in that group.