jimdepalermo
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Before he got too old to travel comfortably, Mister the 15-year-old Westie always flew back and forth with me to the US. It's really not that difficult if the dog is accustomed to traveling by air, which Mister did regularly during his first 10+ years. He's too big to fit under the seat, so he always traveled in a carrier in baggage, where he had much more room to move about than I did - he could even lie down and sleep! And frankly, having a dog under the seat for a 10-hour flight would be difficult.
In over 50 flights all over North America, between North America and Europe, North and South America, and South America and Europe, we had only 2 problems - once he took an earlier flight and had to wait for me at the destination, and once he missed the flight and took a later one.
My biggest concern in taking a dog from here to California would be that there are no direct flights. Because of the flying time involved, I would consider staying overnight at the connection point, to let the dog relax, exercise, and eat. At minimum, schedule a connection with a few hours' wait, so you can claim the dog, go for a walk, offer him water and [a little] food, and have some time to relax together before boarding again. Remember to carry food, a water dish, and clean-up materials in your carry-on, so you're prepared when you exit the airport.
The mechanics are simple for going to the US. See a local vet and explain that you're traveling to the US and need the travel papers. If they ask about microchips, they're not required for entry in the US. The vet will give you a form and/or note, signed and stamped, that you take with the current rabies-vaccination certificate to Senasa, the local agriculture agency. (Technically, you're getting a license to export livestock.)
The Senasa office is hard to find - in the lower end of Puerto Madero behind the floating casino. Enter Puerto Madero via Elvira Rawson de Dellapiane, at the Galena building. Pass the casino and look for a gate marked Senasa on the right, hidden behind the open-air parrillas. If you reach the big statue, you've gone too far.
Once there, you'll fill out a form, pay a fee, and receive your travel papers within about an hour. For the US, where microchips aren't required, the dog does not need to be there, but the staff may give you a hard time if you show up without a dog, so it's probably easiest just to take the dog there.
Arrive early at the airport. Security staff will yell at you if the dog walks on the airport floor. Rather than putting him in the kennel early, I usually put him on top of the kennel, on top of my luggage on a cart. When you check-in, show your papers and buy the dog ticket. Time allowing, I usually left the kennel with the check-in agent and took Mister back outside for a last little walk. Then put him in the kennel, make them promise to get him on the right plane on time and Hasta Luego.
Once on board, it's a good idea to ask a flight attendant to notify the captain that you have a dog traveling in baggage. Ask them to confirm to you that s/he's on board. I usually tried to do this at the front of the cabin, in earshot of the cockpit. Usually the captain would personally respond.
On arrival in the US, the kennel will be delivered with oversized luggage, usually before you clear immigration, so expect to hear your dog yelling "Get me out of here now!" while you're waiting to have your passport examined. Have the Senasa papers handy, as well as the current rabies-vaccination certificate. A USDA agent will examine these as you pass customs, and then you're in.
Traveling in this direction is actually a little more complicated, because the USDA certificates, equivalent to the Senasa export forms, are difficult to obtain. But that's a different story.
In over 50 flights all over North America, between North America and Europe, North and South America, and South America and Europe, we had only 2 problems - once he took an earlier flight and had to wait for me at the destination, and once he missed the flight and took a later one.
My biggest concern in taking a dog from here to California would be that there are no direct flights. Because of the flying time involved, I would consider staying overnight at the connection point, to let the dog relax, exercise, and eat. At minimum, schedule a connection with a few hours' wait, so you can claim the dog, go for a walk, offer him water and [a little] food, and have some time to relax together before boarding again. Remember to carry food, a water dish, and clean-up materials in your carry-on, so you're prepared when you exit the airport.
The mechanics are simple for going to the US. See a local vet and explain that you're traveling to the US and need the travel papers. If they ask about microchips, they're not required for entry in the US. The vet will give you a form and/or note, signed and stamped, that you take with the current rabies-vaccination certificate to Senasa, the local agriculture agency. (Technically, you're getting a license to export livestock.)
The Senasa office is hard to find - in the lower end of Puerto Madero behind the floating casino. Enter Puerto Madero via Elvira Rawson de Dellapiane, at the Galena building. Pass the casino and look for a gate marked Senasa on the right, hidden behind the open-air parrillas. If you reach the big statue, you've gone too far.
Once there, you'll fill out a form, pay a fee, and receive your travel papers within about an hour. For the US, where microchips aren't required, the dog does not need to be there, but the staff may give you a hard time if you show up without a dog, so it's probably easiest just to take the dog there.
Arrive early at the airport. Security staff will yell at you if the dog walks on the airport floor. Rather than putting him in the kennel early, I usually put him on top of the kennel, on top of my luggage on a cart. When you check-in, show your papers and buy the dog ticket. Time allowing, I usually left the kennel with the check-in agent and took Mister back outside for a last little walk. Then put him in the kennel, make them promise to get him on the right plane on time and Hasta Luego.
Once on board, it's a good idea to ask a flight attendant to notify the captain that you have a dog traveling in baggage. Ask them to confirm to you that s/he's on board. I usually tried to do this at the front of the cabin, in earshot of the cockpit. Usually the captain would personally respond.
On arrival in the US, the kennel will be delivered with oversized luggage, usually before you clear immigration, so expect to hear your dog yelling "Get me out of here now!" while you're waiting to have your passport examined. Have the Senasa papers handy, as well as the current rabies-vaccination certificate. A USDA agent will examine these as you pass customs, and then you're in.
Traveling in this direction is actually a little more complicated, because the USDA certificates, equivalent to the Senasa export forms, are difficult to obtain. But that's a different story.
