If you plan on bringing a dog to the Caribbean anytime soon you must BEWARE of these 5 things!

If you are like us then your four-legged friend comes everywhere! This past year we spent the majority of our time sailing around the Caribbean and yup you guessed it, with our dog. Here are 5 things to beware of when bringing a dog to the Caribbean to ensure their safety and your sanity. 

Import process 

Beware, this can be a major headache if you do not plan far in advance. Each country has its own requirements and means of properly checking in. Some of the requirements can take months to complete. A few timely requirements include a Rabies Titer Test (results can take weeks), Lyme/Lepto vaccines (two shots 2-3 weeks apart), and import permits. Being prepared and organized before you ever set off for your adventure can save you major headaches.

To find out the requirements and our personal experience checking into each country click here. 

Don’t try to play the system

Yes, preparing properly as mentioned above can be a daunting task but I would highly advise you to follow the required importation process as best as you can. We have heard of people forging paperwork but many of the Caribbean vets that you must check in with went to Vet school together. They know what a proper health certificate and signature look like. They also see each other’s signatures all the time from boats transiting back and forth.  Chances are the signature you are forging is one of their friends. When checking into Antigua the vet looked at our papers for about half a sec before telling us how his friend is the last vet we saw (he recognized the handwriting).

Some vets even have eyes on the beach to watch if any sailors are illegally bringing dogs to shore like our experience in Dominica. Sometimes it is not practical to have a health certificate signed within 5 days of arrival but the customs officers and vets generally understand that the weather decides our moves. We have thought about flying under the radar to save time and money but after seeing that eyes are always watching, such as in Dominica we will always do our absolute best to follow the requirements.

Poison

This was a big surprise to us. We have heard of two instances of poison being used on dogs. In more agricultural areas such as Carriacou, farmers will put out poison for stray dogs to keep them away from their goats, cows, etc. Stray dogs can form packs and take out herds of animals at a time. These animals are the farmer’s livelihood and the poison is a way to protect it. On other islands we have heard of poison being used for rats, however, there are no regulations on how it is used. Often this poison has a sweet smell and even though it is intended for rats some dogs meet a terrible fate. Our advice is to always keep your dog on a leash and DO NOT let them eat anything off the ground. 

Stray dogs

Some islands are really working on getting spay and neuter programs up and running. However, it could take years for these programs to make an impact on the number of strays running around. If your dog does not like other dogs be very careful. You will almost ALWAYS see strays on your walks. In our experience, the strays are typically friendly. I always carry pepper spray just in case I need to protect Jetty or myself. I have also seen other cruisers carrying sticks for protection.

No dogs allowed

We have found that there is a very big fear of dogs in the Caribbean. People literally go out of their way to stay far away. You will find far fewer restaurants that allow a dog to sit outside with you compared to the states. Many of the french islands also do not allow dogs at popular beaches. In Dominica, we learned that the local’s fear stemmed from their slavery roots where dogs were used to hunt them. I am not sure where the fear came from on other islands but it is something to take into consideration when planning your trip because sometimes your dog will not be welcome. 

Bringing a dog to the Caribbean can seem stressful and even scary at first but if you are prepared and stay aware you will have a blast! There are hundreds of beaches to run on and an endless supply of beautiful water to swim in. If you have any questions about bringing a dog to the Caribbean feel free to ask 🙂 

You can also check out a few of our other articles all about traveling with dogs below :

Preparing to Sail to the Caribbean with a DOG!

Must Have’s When Traveling with a Four-Legged Friend

Tips to Keep Your Dog Cool While Boating 

Thanks for reading! 

Sierra