Rescuing a Rincon Animal & Taking it Home to the States
If You Need Help With Animal Travel Plans Use a ARF Doggie-Kitty Travel Agent. They can help you with the below for a $50 or $100 “Donation” that ARF passes directly on to the Travel Agent.
- Call your Airlines to learn their specific rules. PR is a US Territory so rules are pretty minimal on all Airlines, no quarantines.
- Decide, based on their rules, if you can carry the animal into the cabin or need to check the animal into cargo
- If you aren’t traveling yourself book with Continental/United 800-575-3335 as they have a PetSafe Unaccompanied Animal Shipping Program - flying out of Aguadilla/BQN is easiest if you want ARF to help get the animal to the flight. When on phone, they get confused about BQN hours and cargo. Ask them to ask a supervisor because sometimes they will tell you they can’t take cargo at certain times, that is okay – they check animal in at main desk at airlines – supervisor should know this
- Get a Health Certificate from a PR Vet within 10 days of the flight - visit our Local Vets page if you need help finding a Vet.
- Get a carrier. Hard crate for cargo animals. Soft carrier for carry on animals. Walmart in Mayaquez usually has them
- The closest place to Rincon is Aguada Feed Store owned by Alexi 787-868-2810 Open Mon-Sat 7:30 to 5:30 he has hard and soft carriers. 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.
- Walmart 787-834-2280 – take the 115 to the 2 South – look for the Mayagüez Mall on the left – about 30 miles from Rincon
- If we have an extra carrier (which is always our goal) you can borrow one from ARF – we will take $75 deposit for large crate, $50 for medium crate or $20 for small hard or soft carrier – when you return the crate we can give your deposit back. Our USPS mailing address is PO PO Box 592 Rincon, PR – Please use the US Postal Service to return carriers.
- The closest place to Rincon is Aguada Feed Store owned by Alexi 787-868-2810 Open Mon-Sat 7:30 to 5:30 he has hard and soft carriers. 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.
- Getting the animal to the Airport. The person taking the animal to the airport for checkin should have a hard or soft copy of the airlines confirmation for the animals – and their name should be on that confirmation booking (you can always call back to add or change names after the reservation has been made). Aguadilla has flights in the middle of the night/morning so if you aren’t traveling yourself you can try arranging a Rincon Taxi to take the animal for you. Just keep in mind how big the animal is and if it will require a 2nd person with the driver to carry the crate. You can also tip the guy outside the airport to help you or the Taxi driver carry a crate at Aguadilla. Also keep in mind the Taxi Driver will have to park and walk the animal into check-in counter – so they will charge for that. But we have found this reasonable. MAKE CERTAIN, the person checking the animal in at the Airline Counter is on the reservation – you can always call after an animals reservation is made and add/change names on the reservation. Ivette Me Taxi 787-505-3468 Ramon Taxi 787-823-5938 Rincon Taxi Carlos 787-398-3621
Some general information:
Visiting a Veterinarian
- A travel certificate normally is required to be no more than 10 DAYS OLD from date of travel. Meaning you need to take the animal to the Vet 9 or 8 or 7 or LESS days before your flight.
- A travel certificate normally just requires a visual exam by the Vet – a vaccination – rabies if the animal is 6 months or older and a fecal exam to rule out parasites (meds can be given if fecal exam is positive – the animal can still get a health certificate, if you start them on the meds)
- The 4DX test (which tests for 4 different blood born pathogens, including Heartworm) is your choice for dogs 6 months or older, but it is not required for Health Certificate. The test and the medicines are cheaper in Puerto Rico. That would be the main reason you do the test in Puerto Rico. Even if an animal tests positive for one of the four condictions, they can normally travel as long as you purchase and start the treatments. With ARF the test is about $40 and the most expensive treatment is for Heartworm and it is probably only a few hundred dollars in PR (weight of animal determines pricing).
- If your vacation time allows, have the animal spayed/neutered before returning to the States. Again, Veterinarian services are less expensive in Puerto Rico
Purchase or Borrow a Kennel
- The closest place to Rincon is Aguada Feed Store owned by Alexi 787-868-2810 Open Mon-Sat 7:30 to 5:30 he has hard and soft carriers. 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.
- If ARF has an extra carrier (which is always our goal) you can borrow one from ARF - we will take $75 deposit for large crate, $50 for medium crate or $20 for small hard or soft carrier – when you return the crate we can give your deposit back. Our USPS mailing address is PO PO Box 592 Rincon, PR – Please use the US Postal Service to return carriers.
- Various sized kennels can be purchased at local Feed Stores, K-mart and Wal-mart stores in Mayagüez, or at Pet World located on Road #2 Tel. 787-868-4957.
- If you can borrow a kennel, they can be taken apart after use and shipped back to Rincon. Even older kennels can be used by using tie wraps to secure the top to the bottom when shipping the animal.
- Use twist ties to connect the top to the bottom if there is any thought that the kennel is not secure, especially for older kennels.
- 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.
- Put torn up newspaper in the bottom of the kennel to absorb any accidents
- Attach a zip lock bag with food in it to the top of the kennel
- Put an empty bowl in the kennel
- 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 you are able
- Again, local Feed Stores have many dog and cat items
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
- American Airlines (Pet Travel 1-800-433-7300) departs from San Juan Airport (SJU) to JFK Airport every day of the week on a 6:55am flight which arrives at 10:35am. Contact the airlines to reserve a ticket for the animal. Cost varies from $150 (for puppies in one kennel) to $265 per dog, but verify with the airline
- Continental Airlines/United Airlines (Pet Travel 800-575-3335 or 832-235-1541) departs from Aguadilla (BQN) airport Cost is approximately $240, although price may vary
- Jet Blue (Pet Travel 1-800-JETBLUE or 1-800- 538-2583) departs from Aguadilla (BQN) a limited amount of animals may travel in a plane, each with an escort. Since animals are not placed in cargo, they must be small enough to fit under the passenger seat. Cost is approximately $100 per animal although cost may change without notice
