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Flying to Panama with Your Dog or Cat

Picture
DFW is typically an easy airport to fly in and out of. The problem is that the gate agents took one look at me and hated me on sight. First, they said my kennel was too small for my dog. (It wasn't.) I was literally on my hands and knees at the check-in counter proving that my little Sofi could stand up and turn around in the crate. After an hour of paperwork and headaches, they finally decided that my brand-new crate wouldn't work because it had flip-lock lids on the side, similar to a food storage container. My girlfriends had to make a mad dash to a pet store 15 minutes away to buy a new bigger, correct kennel for air travel. Although my first kennel had an "airplane approved" logo on it... it wasn't.

The Correct Kennel for Air Travel

Don't make the same mistake I made. Be sure you get the correct animal crate for transporting your dog or cat. This is a photo of an approved kennel. Notice the side ventilation, the steel front gate, and the bolted sides. 

NOT ALLOWED: 
- Crates with flip-lock lids (think Tupperware type closures)
- All steel mesh crates... the crate must have a hard plastic top
- Collapsible crate

CRATE REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to put zip ties in the 4 corners of the crate and a zip tie locking the front gate to the kennel. This will ensure your dog or cat can't get out on the runway. Be sure to pack a tiny pair of scissors or knife in your checked baggage where you can easily get to it, because a key will not cut the zip ties. I know this because I tried. The key would have broken before the zip tie did.

Since no one loves my dogs as much as I love my dogs, I wish I'd had someone show me a photo of exactly what I needed before I left. It would have saved time, angst, money, and a frantic trip to the pet supply store in the middle of checking in.

The Arrival Process in Panama
Thankfully, getting my dogs into Panama was not nearly as challenging as leaving the United States. After getting off the plane, I was taken to passport control. They asked me how long I planned to stay. Knowing almost no English, I wasn't about to tell them that my move was permanent. Now that I was in possession of an unwanted ticket home, I was able to say in all honesty that I would be in Panama on holiday for 60 days. My passport was stamped and I was off to collect my luggage.

Panama has a very efficient luggage system, and I got my 3 checked bags off of the carousel in a matter of minutes. I went through a second screening where all bags have to be checked by a machine, and then I was able to collect my second dog in the airport vet area... only a few feet from where I was.

My paperwork was checked by two different veterinarian agents who spoke passable English, and I paid my fees. Within 15 minutes I was whisked out of the airport and into the warm night at 10:00 p.m.

My first task was to find a patch of grass for my dogs to use. There was a nice patch of grass at the edge of the airport parking lot, and several pees later, they were happy. 

Click here to read the checklist for bringing your dog or cat into Panama.






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