How easy/difficult is it to emigrate from the US with a pet?

Question

I'm planning a 6 month backpacking tour of the entire continent of South America. I'm not neccesarily looking to emigrate, but I realize I may find the place I want to spend the rest of my life while I'm there (maybe Brazil, Argentina, or Peru). If I do decide to emigrate, how easy will it be for me to take my 2 year old 25 lb vaccinated Lhasa Apso with me? Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, it may take time, money and red tape, but you can bring your dog. I knew a family that brought their dog from Cuba with them

Answer 2

All depends on the country. One thing that is consistant across all countries is that you will need to see a vet and get all of his shots/checkups/etc. up to date, and make sure you tell your vet that you are going to be taking him out of country so they can prepare all of the necessary paperwork for you. Most countries will let you bing pets across as long as all of the shots and records are up to date and the pet is healthy and free of disease. Some will quarantine your pet for a week or two though, while they have their own vets check him out at your expense (which is a pain ;p) Others will just force you to get him checked out by a vet in the new country within 30 days of taking him in. If you fail to do so, the animal control, or sheriff's dept. (or equivalent) will come and take him away.

You can check with the consolate for the respective country that you wish to move to on what the specific laws are.

Now the travel is another story, you will have a very difficult time taking a dog that size on a plane. So you would need to drive him down. You probably won't be able to take him anywhere that isn't connected by land with the USA...at least not without shelling out a lot of money for a private plane.

Answer 3

The laws vary from country to country. So, until you find your Shangri La, it's pretty hard to answer that question. Plus, taking an animal on board a plane can be very complicated. a 25 lb. dog would have to go in the luggage department. Most flights only allow a few animals and in the warm weather months, may not allow a dog in the luggage department at all depending on the ground temperature. It can be done, but it can be a serious hassle.

Answer 4

You can't do it. Most countries require animals be placed in quarantine. Some keep them as long as 6 months. There is no way you can backpack through all those countries while trying to get your animals in and out of quarantine each time you cross a border.