allies_daphne

I’m not sure a ‘canine cruise’ would work.  Animals cannot be left unattended in the state room so anytime you are not there, they must be with you.  That means pool, meals, shows, excursions, ports.  
 

Cruise  ship space is limited.  Most service dog relief areas are under a small stairwell unless you have a balcony and choose to have the relief station there.  Would be difficult to accommodate many dogs in a community relief area.

Thirdly, who would vouch for the temperament and behavior of all these dogs together?  Every time we travel with our SD we must provide proof of his Canine Good Citizenship status and also sign a waiver that he will not be disruptive, potty where he shouldn’t etc… and if so, they have the right to remove us.  
 

While I do understand people miss their pets while on vacation, I don’t think cruising is the best vacation option with pets - no vet service available either, and maybe not even in port (and that’s saying you have appropriate permits to get off, which isn’t likely, because if your dog isn’t a SD, they would not be allowed off).  

On our last cruise through the Panama Canal there was another ‘service dog’ on board.  It was a smaller terrier type and several times walking the deck or out at the pool it lunged and barked at our SD.  This was to the point we had to report it, because if my daughters dog becomes incapacitated, she’s lost her medical device.  This guest was also feeding him under the table every night at dinner.  On formal night, right by Guest Services, we were walked past the Photography backdrop to the elevators and this dog lunged after ours again, just walking past.  Probably 50 people saw this happen.  Our SD never reacted at all, but these type of people make those of us with true service animals completely scrutinized all the time.  At the end of the day, animals are animals and they aren’t perfect, and ours will certainly on occasion grab a crumb off the floor if he thinks he can get away with it, and if he’s separated from my daughter multiple times in a short period (say at Disney, if she’s riding rides), he will voice his displeasure of the separation with one bark.  He’ll be 7 in July and he’s barked 6 times since have had him - that’s it. 
 

We prepare long ahead of time for cruising, using a potty box at home for 3 months pre cruise so it becomes very normal for him to go in a small box.  He is in a strict food/water schedule so we know when he pees/poops - after breakfast and dinner and pees mid day and bedtime.  This allows us to plan activities/excursions based on his schedule and knowing when his breaks are.  He does not get any food in between because the potty schedule is set. 
 

it is a lot of work to travel with a SD, but without him, there are so many things we would never be able to do.  

Happy to help if I can!  We’ve come a long way since this post.  Our boy has 32 sea days under his vest now and another 14 night coming up in October.  Things are ever changing regarding traveling with SD’s and I will tell you that most cruise lines will help with onboard things but anything off board (Like excursions, or even the port requirements/restrictions in general they will leave to the cruiser.

4 hours ago, Mabbiez said:

If my next cruise in April2021 happens we will be flying into Orlando and staying a couple of nights. I decided I want to go to Disney Springs since Disney World will be a little out of the budget right before going on a transatlantic cruise. Anyway it got me to thinking...I wanted to see service dogs at Disney.

 

I suggest to everyone, Google "Service dogs at Disney" and click on images! I was pleasantly surprised at how good the pictures were!

We are annual Passholders at Disney and go all the time.  Like anywhere, we have seen well trained dogs there, and not so well trained.  We love Disney Springs, and there are lots of places to cool off there.  We also love cruising on DCL. Did the EBPC Cruise last November for 14 nights and it was fabulous!  

3 hours ago, Algebralovr said:

Process in my area is really just to stay home unless breathing becomes labored.  Since I have asthma, mine is regularly so.  
So, my physician says to treat symptoms, and contact if change.  Which is really the norm for this.  

We really don't need to know how many people have it, there is no real need to test unless a real cause to do so.  It is a virus.  I get that the secondary infection can become a serious issue, and so the goal is not to let a secondary infection set in.

 

Anyway, hope all are well!  

Actually there IS reason to test, because people could be asymptomatic carriers.  Someone who has a COVID exposure and doesn’t self isolate and get tested could pass it on to many others.  I promise you the numbers we have in the US right now are drastically low compared to how many really have it.  As testing availability ramps up in the next 7 days, you will see many more cases.  By the end of this week Quest and LabCorp expect to be running 20K and 50K tests per day Respectively, with less than 24 hour turnaround time for the result.  Many labs in local hospitals are also getting FDA approval to run the tests so cases can be identified earlier.

For high risk people (elderly, asthma, autoimmune, COPD, oncology and immunocompromised patients) the risk of this virus turning into an interstitial pneumonia is tenfold.  People can be fine one day and intubated the next.  

4 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

We ordered a big dog food bag, too, recently so we’d have plenty on hand after the now-cancelled cruise, and I’m so glad. 

 

It’s strange that Florida in general hasn’t acted as decisively and quickly as other states and municipalities, given that so many of us here are in the high risk group by age. Our bars and restaurants are still open. But I sent out a cancellation notice yesterday for all our Hearing Loss Assiciation of America’s chapter events for the next month.
 

And things have changed dramatically since the weekend. I went out last night about 7 to pick up an online order from Kohl’s in my neighborhood, and the store and parking lot were almost empty. I stopped into my Publix grocery store across the road, and it was spooky to see so many empty shelves. There was very light traffic on Tamiami Trail, which is a major artery usually jammed by snowbird traffic and endless construction. So it’s looking like a disaster movie when you do go out.

I am in the Tampa area facing the same things - our restaurants are not closed, but cannot be more than 50% capacity and must close at 10 PM.  Delivery and take out Is being encouraged.  I realize that they are trying to keep businesses going, but the recommendation for social distancing doesn’t really allow for the rules to be bent.  This is being asked of all of us, so that much like the TP shortage from everyone getting supplies at once, our healthcare system will face the same: not enough supplies, not enough ventilators, not enough hospital beds and not enough healthcare workers, because even though we will likely recover, if we test positive, or have a known COVID contact, we must self quarantine until we have 2 consecutive negative swabs at least 24 hours apart.  We are about 14 days behind Italy when it comes to COVID, and physicians there are having ethical meetings every day to decide who gets the limited resources (ie: critical care services).  The elderly are being left to die in most cases, because they are the least strong and least likely to be able to recover.  China and Italy gave us a glimpse of what can happen, and it’s up to us to try to flatten the curve here In The US.  
 

I hope you all remain safe and well, and that your pups have everything they need.  

14 hours ago, Mavis and Me said:

Can you move it to a whole new spot?  Maybe somewhere that is surrounded by concrete.  Try putting an exercise pen around it so that you 'kennel' him in there for a while.  Like going to a dog park or something akin to that.  Does he prefer any other substance?  Like grass?  If so, pick up a flat of sod and lay it in there; that might help him to understand.  You have time to get this worked out, so try not to get uptight or anxious about him going potty.  It will only result in him thinking there is something WRONG with pottying, which is definitely not what you want him to think.  When you walk him, do you stop before going into stores/etc., and tell him to potty?  Will he (urinate ... poop's a whole other topic!) 90% of the time ?  Or is it a hit and miss sort of thing.  People who have dogs that get mature bladders early on who can go for hours between 'breaks' have a more difficult time of teaching the potty command because the dog knows it can hold it for a long time so it won't go.  My puppies are on leash during potty opportunities for the first year of their lives, so they definitely KNOW what I mean and they'll do it anywhere/anytime.  The older dogs that I've gotten have been much more difficult in this regard because they are already housebroke, but they are often used to going potty loose in a backyard or a kennel, and they prefer not to do it connected to ME!!  :)  When I tell Mavis to potty, she will always squat and try; it doesn't always result in urine, but at least I know she understood what I wanted from her.  You might just start by reinforcing the command 'potty' (or whatever you use) on your general outings.  Carry HIGH value treats and lavish them on him when he goes.  Make a big deal about what a good boy he is.  Encourage him to drink lots of water so you have more opportunities to take him out to pee.  Use the wait command to build release, so that he's looking forward to peeing.  Walk him up to an area that he likes to pee, ask him if he needs to go, then tell him to wait.  (Be excited and happy, you're trying to build drive.  Think of it almost as if he saw something that he wanted to chase.  You'd say, "Do you see that [bunny]? Wait ... ...  OK!!! Get it!!"  You want him excited about the opportunity to pee.)  Then tell him, "OK!!!  Potty!" and just wait.  If he doesn't go, ignore it and lead him away.  If he starts to go, calmly say, "Gooood potty, gooood boy" so he gets that it's the act of peeing that makes you happy.  Then when he's done, jump and clap your hands with an excited "YES!!!" and shovel out those treats.  Once 'potty' is a reflexive action and not just a word, you can work on changing up the substance he'll do it on.  Mavis's most impressive places that she's gone are on TOP of a dense 2 foot tall shrub (that's all that was in the parking lot!), on a steel grate, and in the gutter in a busy city (we live on a farm).  He'll get it - he's a poodle - they are super intelligent!

It took us awhile too - ours did not like the big lip of a baby pool so we opted for one of the trays that go in crates.  We also did sod since that is what he is used to going on.  He did not want to use the box at first either, so we would give him 5 or 10 minutes and if he didn’t go, we went back inside.   Probably the 4th or 5th trip he peed in the box and was given praise and kibbles.  We did not give him access to regular potty spot at all.   It took a couple of days for him to go on command in the tray, but he finally did.  We switched out the sod every 4 or 5 days for 2 months before our cruise and made him use that area Only to relieve himself, just to make sure we had no issues. 

Yesterday, for the first time, we dealt with an aggressive dog towards my daughters SD.  We were in Costco, picking up a few things.  We were leaving, walking past the food counter and all the tables for eating, and I remember thinking ‘Wow, a lot of people eating today!’  No sooner had I said that and turned my head back towards the exit, than I hear aggressive barking and turned around to see a boxer lunging at our SD.  He was leashed thank God, but even more appalling was that it had a ‘service dog in training’ vest on.  There was also a second dog, who also started barking.  As we kept walking, I could hear a man trying to give those dogs commands of some sort.  Our pup did not react at all, but I think, had that happened on our way in, I would have asked management ask those dogs to leave - completely inappropriate behavior, and SD’a I. Training so not carry the same rights as fully trained SD’s.  On top of all this, we were questioned when we came in if our dog was a SD (which I am fine with, btw....).  

For Grand Cayman, we didn’t get off, so we chose not to get the titer done.  We did however, fill out the permit for Grand Cayman, stating we would not get off, and we did the dose of Droncit, had updated rabies and Heartworm etc.... Special Services on land, nor Guest Services on board offered any info about GC, but when I emailed the adept of Ag of GC, they told me without the titer, should there be an emergency, the dog would not be allowed on land.  So, essentially they say not getting everything is at your own risk, even if you don’t plan on getting off. 

You are on my Dream Cruise with a B2B PC cruise!  I loved going through the canal, and the history is fascinating!  I was very worried on our PC cruise, as we left out of San Diego but spent several days there ahead of time, so we were not within the 10 or 14 day window for Colombia or Grand Cayman (and GC Dept of Ag told us even if we were not disembarking, we had to get the health certificate within 10 days of entering Cayman waters.  It was Day 12 of our cruise, and 15 days after we flew out to San Diego).  If you are leaving out of SD you will hit those 2 ports after the timeline - Colombia doesn’t care - pay your $110 cash for the inspection and have your electronic endorsement and you can do what you want -  they don’t care, they just want the $$.  We didn’t get off in GC, and were asked to do nothing at that port.   We would NOT get off again in Colombia either.  
 

Putting all your ports on one 7001 form is going to be a lot, but it essentially IS a closed loop cruise, all on the same ship, so I would think it would suffice versus getting a second inspection in FLL. 

You are on my Dream Cruise with a B2B PC cruise!  I loved going through the canal, and the history is fascinating!  I was very worried on our PC cruise, as we left out of San Diego but spent several days there ahead of time, so we were not within the 10 or 14 day window for Colombia or Grand Cayman (and GC Dept of Ag told us even if we were not disembarking, we had to get the health certificate within 10 days of entering Cayman waters.  It was Day 12 of our cruise, and 15 days after we flew out to San Diego).  If you are leaving out of SD you will hit those 2 ports after the timeline - Colombia doesn’t care - pay your $110 cash for the inspection and have your electronic endorsement and you can do what you want -  they don’t care, they just want the $$.  We didn’t get off in GC, and were asked to do nothing at that port.   We would NOT get off again in Colombia either.  
 

Putting all your ports on one 7001 form is going to be a lot, but it essentially IS a closed loop cruise, all on the same ship, so I would think it would suffice versus getting a second inspection in FLL. 

Caribbean Chris, we are so lucky to have our trainer local to us, and we have lifetime training as part of our contract.  Whenever my daughter is struggling with him, we go in for a couple of sessions.  He has also don’t some additional lengthy scent training with Mickey, where he kept him for 2 weeks.  He gets us a new letter every year, stating his currents tasks, and that he has been retested on them, as well as CGC.  He also helped us with potty box training, and just answering general questions by phone or by text.  
 

When we went on our 14 night cruise, with an extra 6 nights away from home, he had never worked that many days in a row, but he was perfect.  We could not have asked for him to be better.  He truly loves working and wants to be challenged.  He also still definitely acts like he’s 2 when you take the vest off, or when he gets up in The morning to eat - sounds like a herd of elephants he’s hopping around so much.  For this reason, only for sleeping did we take the vest off during the cruise - otherwise I’m sure the people below us would have heard a lot more noise!

Before we had a SD, even for the several years we researched about them, training orgs, etc....we never realized that they continue to be a work in progress, even once they have learned the appropriate assistance and tasks.  Mickey has been with us for 2 years now, and although the bond between he and my daughter is stronger, he still tries to take a mile if she gives an inch, and with a cognitive disability, she does not always see negative behaviors quick enough to correct them (or even at all sometimes).  We still have her go through every single one of her commands with him every day, and there are definitely days when he isn’t the most focused SD.  We have much more trouble in the house versus outside.  Outside, he rarely gets distracted from work mode, or doesn’t respond to a quick tug for correction, but inside, the lines are a bit more blurred and the boundaries a little more lax.  Going through commands every day, in and out of the house, in different settings keeps both of them fresh and focusing on each other.  Just like police K-9’s, they must continually work on their commands so that it becomes second nature when they get a signal or verbal command.  

We have also experienced many other dogs on flights and going through security, and while I don’t have strong worries about our dog, I do worry about other dogs that don’t appear to be well trained, and the fact that ours would not fight back if faced with an altercation.  

1 hour ago, rangeley said:

We're here!! Flight was great, Oakland was not. He was fine until we got on the plane. Then he was wierd for the entire flight. Either layed down with his head up or sat. It was really strange. He peed and pooped before we left and peed again at the airport. We fed him before we got on. I'm not sure if that screwed him up. He barely ate cookies and refused an ice cube. When we landed he was fine ☹️. They finally put a potty area inside security!!! And it wasn't a shower stall like in LA. He went in and peed. We was so happy. 

 

Forgot an important part. At the airport and at the hotel, they asked to see an Id for the dog. Jetblue said it was a new thing and said although the Id was good she said a letter from the organization would be better. 

Our SD Mickey was also weird on our last flight. He normally will lay at my daughters feet, and just re-situate now and then.  We had a rough landing on our outbound flight, and the gravity pulling him against the wall was a little unsettling.  On our return flight, he was fine when we boarded, but before we even took off, he was acting out of sorts, laying down, but staring at the wall and not easily distracted from that.  I thought maybe he was going to get sick. He never did, but he also never relaxed or settled in.  As soon as we got off the plane he was fine.  So, not sure if there was just something about the last fight, or if he know is a little leery because of that rough landing on the first flight. We shall see the next time we fly.....

6 hours ago, wizard-of-roz said:

Such a great idea.  Disney used to use the child's wading pool filled with mulch.  I don't know if they still do.

Disney uses sod, at least on the 4 cruises we have done.  They make a shallow potty box out of a thick tray.  It’s probably 36x24 or so. 

7 hours ago, wizard-of-roz said:

Such a handsome dog.  I have found Carnival to be very helpful when it comes to our dogs.  They will allow the pottybox on your veranda.  You just have to insist on it.  

 

The more Teddy uses a potty box at home the more used to using a potty box he will become.  And, going in one onboard a cruise ship will be no problem.   Carnival uses the best boxes; pre-made and purchased online.  They're made of metal, lined with plastic and filled with mulch. 

 

For your home box you can buy whatever filler you like best.  Lowe's sells [wood shavings], in bulk, you can cover whatever you choose with artificial turf, or, if the mulch is easy to walk on, use it straight from the container.  And, practice, practice, practice.  My dogs ONLY USE A POTTY BOX AT HOME.  It makes them to be the best travelers when cruising.

 

My suggestion is to check on the filler that is being used by the ship, before you ask the dog to use it, if it hurts the dog's paws they will refuse to step on it, because it hurts.  I ALWAYS bring rolled-up artificial turf to cover whatever the cruiselines use.  I buy it at Lowe's in 4x4 sections, I cut drainage holes in it, fold it up and bring a fresh sheet in my suitcase. 

 

The first thing I do is lay the plastic turf over whatever the ship is using as filler and then ask my dog to go potty.  It travels very easily and my dogs NEVER refuse to step on it. 

 

Traveling with our dogs is really up to us to make it fun for them too!!!!

The first cruise we took with my daughters service dog, he also struggled with the potty box.  He would pee in it, but did not want to poop.  This was a short cruise (4 nights), so we managed, using ports for him to go.  He did have one accident (poop) walking to the potty box.  This past November, we took a 14 night cruise, so we knew we had work to do.  Our SD’a trainer recommended just what this board does - make a potty box, and USE IT all the time.  We used a crate tray and lined it with a garbage bag, then potty pads, then sod.  We did this weekly and moved it around our property, so he would not be used to only one spot.  It took a few weeks, but soon he was going TO the potty box, and doing both ‘businesses’ in it.  
When we boarded the ship, we all he’d a collective breath the first time we took him to the box (Disney puts their boxes on deck 4 Aft, under a stairwell on the walking/jogging path, so lots of traffic).  He was PERFECT.  Not one issue with the box.  So, don’t be discouraged - some work at home will help tremendously, and the potty box will soon be one less cruise stressor!

Denise

19 minutes ago, wizard-of-roz said:

Horton and I have been together since 2011, he knows me, I know him.  We're very relaxed around each other.  But, always "alert" to each others needs.   He gives me a comfort, safety zone that's really only visible to the two of us or to someone who travels with us and know's us.  Does this come across as "poor Service Dog behavior", maybe, to some folks. 

 

Does Horton need to sit or be at a "heel" every time we're not moving, no, because I'm standing and usually turning and looking and moving to the left or right or forward or backwards and this really demands that Horton be ready to move right along with me and not be stationary.  It's a "dance" that we do with each other.  He'd actually trip me or get in my way if he weren't ready to move all the time, as I do!  If I give Horton a command he's very responsive and right there for me!  Sometime he'll get distracted, like any dog would, but he's easy to bring right back to me.

 

It took over a year for Horton to totally understand my walk, my stance and my wants.  He's a great travel buddy now.

 

Unless the dog is acting badly, barking, lunging at others, or growling, I would assume that the handler and the dog have a "dance" with each other and know what they're doing.

Is it weird for me to say it’s comforting to know that other folks SD’s get distracted at times?  Since my daughter has cognitive deficits, she isn’t always focused on whether HE is focused or not.  Sometimes she can be stationary, in her own little world for hours.  As the family member responsible for them I feel a huge amount of pressure for him to ‘behave’ and set a good service dog example, and sometimes I feel like one small lapse in that setting will reflect badly on the SD community. 
 

That being said, in 2 years, I can count on one hand the number of times he had difficulty refocusing, and even then, he wasn’t acting up. 
 

I will also say that on the rare occasion that I had to take him to the potty box on the cruise, he’s definitely a little out of sync with my stride compared to my daughters, as well as being separated from her.  He doesn’t act up, but seems to saying ‘what the heck??’  
 

I’m so thankful to have found this group!

We used the VEHCS system for Colombia.  Turnaround time is about 48 hours.  Once it is endorsed by the USDA office an email is sent back to the vet to login and print the permit.  Make sure that when they fill out the application for the permit (this is done electronically too), that they indicate it’s a SD, so there is no charge.  

On 11/18/2019 at 8:44 AM, rangeley said:

 

I always keep the dog at the table while John gets someone to help him with his food. I doubt Oakland would stay by himself. 

We have an over the shoulder leash my daughter uses, and it has helped a lot with buffets, as it frees up both of her hands.  Since she has a cognitive deficit, she isn’t always quick to correct her SD, so my older daughter and I have to correct at times - because of that, we would not leave him at a table to go through a buffet, especially not a cruise buffet.  He does really well, and walks to her left without issue.  He’s a smaller build field lab, 51 lbs, so not at the level of the buffet.  As another poster said, we also have occasions where he eats food that has been dropped, or is on the floor under a table that we don’t see.  He’s a smart boy 😀.  

On 11/22/2019 at 9:13 AM, Miki_moto said:

 

Watching this with interest.  Our Panama Canal Cruise stops in many places but Jamaica seems to require the most prep.  

 

Question - should I do all the required testing if I’m not getting off the ship?

 

On 11/20/2019 at 12:22 PM, Wendsong said:

Jazz has been trained to move "forward" and can go through the metal detectors without his leash, but I haven't been asked to remove his leash. He sits down on the other side and waits for me (usually, sometimes he comes back!). I send the harness through the x-ray machine because it has heavy metal rings on it. One time they did search me, but usually they just swipe my hands for powder. It does sound as if they were retaliating for refusing to follow an "order" to take off her leash. They have no idea how tiring it is traveling with a SD. They seem to think we do it as a lark!

We were also recently asked to do this at Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas.  My daughter is on the Autism Spectrum and he is tethered to her at all times.  We originally used an around the waist jogging leash, but now use an over the shoulder that frees up her hands more.  Every other airport we have been in let’s them walk through together and then they are both wanded, as the metal rings on his vest set off the scanner.  My older daughter goes through first, then my daughter and SD, and I go last.  Austin was insistent they be separated, and I said no, you cannot require that - it’s his job to be attached to her.  They wanted us to take the sheepskin liner off the belly strap of his vest, and really felt under every inch of the vest. When I tried to explain the process we had experienced in other airports, I was told by the TSA agent that they don’t see many dogs.  Ironically, we had FIVE dogs on our flight - 2 SD’s, and 3 small dogs who were barking and actually sitting in chairs in the terminal.  

11 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

 

Get it if you can because if you had to leave the ship in an emergency, it might create extra problems.

 

Some ports like St. Kitts & Nevis have very stringent paperwork (TWO $$$$ blood titer tests) that make it very difficult or costly to get a permit. Barbados, Jamaica, and several others are problematic. In those cases, I have advised the ship in writing with my paperwork when I boarded that I did not plan to take the dog off the ship.

 

They enter it into the documentation. If you decide to get off there, your key card will make a noise and you will be stopped to talk to the nearest ship’s officer who makes sure there’s not a dog at your side.

I literally just got off a repositioning Cruise through the Panama Canal today (San Diego to Galveston).  Our stops were Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Cartagena, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  We did one template for all the Mexico ports, an electronic endorsement for Colombia and an IHC for Grand Cayman, stating we would not be disembarking in that port.  We were not asked for any paperwork in Cabo or Puerto Vallarta, and no inspection.  2 days prior to arriving in Colombia, despite having the appropriate IHC and proof of rabies etc....  we were notified Colombian officials wanted to do their own inspection prior to debarkation.  We had to pay a $75 inspection fee and a $35 port fee, all in cash, just to get off.  They walked up to us in the lounge where we were waiting and basically told us we were good to go - no actual inspection, just pay their fee to get off.  We won’t do that again.  
 

We were also required to have an inspection in Cozumel, even through our earlier Mexico ports asked for no paperwork and no inspection.  
 

The best advice I can give, is to be over prepared.  Also know that special services and guest services for your cruise line probably isn’t well versed in matters of paperwork or port procedures.  This was definitely a learning experience for us. 
 

Denise

On 11/3/2019 at 10:23 PM, Wendsong said:

I will be taking my first cruise with my Standard Poodle, service dog, Jazz, on Island Princess in March '20. He has flown many times, traveled on trains, buses and subways and is a very good traveler. But there may be some issues.

 

He has been trained NOT to use artificial turf grass as a toilet. There is too much of it around and I don't want any incidents on areas which are not meant for dogs. The airports use it and he (rightly) refuses to go. I must make sure he relieves himself before we get into the airport. He has held it as many as 12 hours until we could get to a place outside where he has been trained it is OK to go. Princess has been slow to contact me to answer questions regarding what medium they use in the boxes on this ship, except to say it is "mulch or similar". There will be no problem if it is mulch.

 

I have also been unable to  obtain the requirements for entering the 5 SA countries we are stopping at: Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Mexico. I have attempted to contact the Consulates, but have had little success in obtaining information about taking a service dog into the various countries.

 

Mexico told me they correspond by email only, but they responded to my email by sending me instructions on importing exotic animals and birds to zoos. They replied to my response that I was just visiting with a service dog, not importing exotic animals by saying I should contact the cruise line for the information "Ask to your cruise ship company". I have responded to this message, but have not heard back.

 

Panama and Costa Rica both said they will email me the information. Costa Rica has, Panama has not. There is no current number for Colombia in Beverly Hills. I found an email address for them in Colombia and have not as yet heard back.

 

I am sure you have discussed and answered all of my concerns, but 880 pages is more than I can manage right now (!) and wonder if you can give me advice on the issues I have delineated above. Thank you so much.

 

Had no problem getting the Colombia endorsement through VEHCS.  Submitted late Friday night, endorsed by Monday at 2 PM.  Vet goes into the system, downloads the pdf and prints it for you.  I’ve attached a copy of ours.  
 

Hope this will help someone out in the future!  We are at the airport now, waiting for our flight to Cali.  We’ll be on the Disney Wonder in 3 days!!  
 

Not sure where you are located ((I’m in the US), and am cruising on Friday and hitting 2 of your ports (Colombia and Mexico).  I can tell you what we did for those ports (and no, I never heard from their Dept of Ag after calling and emailing either).  I should have Colombia’s International Health Certificate today - we saw our vet on Friday, and she electronically submitted the request.  The USDA office in Gainesville, FL should receive it this morning, and sign off on it within a couple of hours.  Once it’s signed, they will upload it to the VEHCS system and my vet prints out the certificate for me, and I’ll pick it up.  I KNOW this is the electronic process for Colombia, as I was in her office when she was on the phone with the Gainesville office to make sure she was doing it correctly.  
 

For Mexico, we are using Option B, which is the template.  It’s on the APHIS website, and your vet just needs to copy/paste it onto office letterhead and fill it out and sign it per the EXACT directions (no changing of any words, NO abbreviations etc....).  My vet had trouble formatting this, as she has Mac computers, and it would not format on them.  She had to use a Microsoft based computer to do it.  
 

Additionally, she provided me with a general APHIS 7001, which I can also access electronically, even through she gave me an original copy - she said the airlines and cruise ship may require it since we sail out and back into US ports, as well domestic airline travel.  
 

I would be happy to upload a copy of the signed forms for those countries once I get the Colombia one, if that would be helpful for you.  
 

We have only cruised the Caribbean up to this point, and I can tell you that this has been the most stressful vacation planning I have ever experienced, and I don’t think I’ll actually relax one little bit til we are safely on the ship.  I’m hoping it gets a little easier after the first complicated cruise...lol. 
 

I have found that the special services departments on the cruise lines, as well as the governmental offices of other countries are not really helpful, and pass the buck and say ‘ask the cruise line’ or ‘ask the governmental office of that country.’  I have done ALL the legwork myself, using internet research, as well as the knowledgeable people in this group.  
 

I’m also happy to update everyone on how the electronic Colombia form goes once we actually enter the country.  We return from out cruise on 11/25, so I’ll be sure to post that update.  
 

Good Luck and hang in there!  Our countdown started at 539 days, and it’s finally almost here!  
 

Denise

On 10/11/2019 at 7:27 PM, rangeley said:

So far so good. Although the food is still mixed with the rx food. I mixed it half and half until its gone. Probably a week or two, then just the new stuff. I was thinking of asking the vet for some anti diarrhea pills to take with us. 

We also literally just ran in to this issue, with some intermittent vomiting - he wasn't feeling ill, and it would be hours after he ate.  He's just urp it up, wherever he was, and move on.  He has a pretty sensitive stomach, and if he gets anything that isn't his food, he tends to have diarrhea.  We watched it for about a week, and it would come and go, but then we started getting close to our trip, and worrying he wouldn't get cleared by the vet so we took him in.  They thought he might have gastritis, so they put him on Flagyl x 8 days, and it seemed to get better.  About a week ago, he started it again.  Took him right in, since we were leaving within 2 weeks, and they took him off the Health Science Salmon and Rice he's on, and also gave him the Probiotic paste, capsules and switched him to prescription Royal Canin GI food, as well as gave him Tylan powder for 7 days to reset the immune system of the gut.  We are a week into this, and no more vomiting, so fingers crossed.  We are definitely taking some loperamide and Cerenia with us, since it's a 14 day cruise, just in case he gets any stomach upset, since we went on this new regimen.  They recommend he stays on the probiotic capsules until we get back, at the very least.

28 minutes ago, allies_daphne said:

Anyone have an example of the IHC that has to be filed for porting in Colombia?  Our vet is trying to do the VEHCS system for that certificate, and there is some confusion on what goes into certain request boxes. 
 

If live in one state, but are sailing out of another, do you put your home state as the State of Origin, or the state that you are sailing out of?  Also, the address for the cosignee - do you give your home address for that, or the address of the port you are arriving into?  I've seen it filled out different ways on online examples.

Any info anyone could provide if they have gotten Colombia's health certificate completed would be appreciated!

Denise

Also, in regards to Mexico, if you are using Option B, and porting in several different ports in Mexico, do you have to have a separate Form B for each Mexico port, or does one form suffice for all 3 ports?