Getting Your Pets to Ecuador

Before we moved to Ecuador we researched the procedure to be able to bring our two cats and dog to Ecuador with us.  We received a myriad of advice: from being given phone numbers of companies that would do the paperwork for us, to companies that would handle everything, including shipping the pets for us.  It was confusing and very expensive and so I decided to do it on my own.  While it wasn’t difficult, it is a fairly long process. I will put down some “need to know” items that will make it easier.

1. You can only take in one pet per person, dog or cat.
2. The pet needs to be at least six months old.
3. The pet needs a registered microchip.
4. At least three weeks before and up to two months before your pet must go to a licensed veterinarian for a full physical and vaccines (even if they are already up to date) including: rabies, lepto, parvo, distemper, kennel cough for dogs, and rabies and fvrc-p for cats. Three to ten days before you leave both dogs and cats need to be tested for worms and treated for worms and fleas/ticks. 
5. Once the required microchipping, exam, vaccines, and deworming, your veterinarian then fills out and submits online forms to the Department of Agriculture for review. If everything is correct, the Department of Agriculture issues a health certificate.  This certificate accompanies your pet. I put my cats’ records and the health certificates on their approved crates.
6. You need to buy a crate that fits under the airplane seat. I got soft carriers for the cats.
7. Make reservations for the cats or dog ahead of time and confirm before you get to the airport. There are limits on the number of pets may be on a flight, and each pet must be accompanied by an adult traveler.
8. You must travel into Ecuador on a weekday.

And that is all it takes. Our cats travelled in the cabin with us. Once we got to Quito we were asked to bring the cats in a small room where two people government workers checked the form, took the cats out of their crates and examined them, and searched the crates. To make it better for the cats and us, we lined the bottom of the crates with peepee pads in case they had to go potty or got sick.

We will be able to bring our dog next time we return to the states. He is a large German Shepherd so we will need to have him travel in cargo. I know the paperwork is the same but I don’t know the exact procedure to get him through customs since he won’t be traveling in the cabin with us.

Hope this helps- oh, one further note- we had to pay $125 for each cat to American Airlines. I am not sure what they charge for a dog traveling in cargo.