Do you have a dog or cat?  How much are they a part of your family?  Do you carry your teacup poodle in your purse while you shop, or set a place for your cat at the dinner table?  Of course, you don't have to be that close with your pet to love and care for them.

In the US, approximately 43.2 million households have a dog, and 37.7 million households have a cat.  That's an awful lot of kibble!  When people move, there is very little concern about bringing our pets.  Just secure them for safety to make the move, and then get them adjusted to their new living area.  Typically, quite stress-free.

However, anytime there is an International move, many people are worried about being able to bring their pets.  Is there a quarantine?  How long is the journey?  If the pet is elderly, could the trip be too stressful on them?  These are all legitimate concerns - unless you are traveling to Costa Rica.

Luckily for dog and cat owners, it is very easy to bring your pet along with you when you either move to Costa Rica, or go there for an extended stay (like snowbirds).  For cats and dogs, you will need to prove that your pet is healthy, which can be done by visiting your vet a week or two before your departure.  Your vet will provide you with a health certificate stating that the animal is healthy, and that they have received their vaccinations for hepatitis, distemper, rabies, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.  This health certificate also needs to be endorsed by a Veterinary Service veterinarian.

The next step is to get authorization from the Costa Rican Health Ministry, which can be done at your nearest Costa Rica consulate or embassy.

Once in Costa Rica, your dog or cat will be visually inspected, for a whopping fee of $1.  If all is in order, you're done!  You've made it to Costa Rica with your beloved cat or dog.

Returning to your home country with your pet may be a different story.  You are now at the mercy of your home country's rules, which could be a lot stricter than Costa Rica's.  Please consult your country's consulate even before you leave for Costa Rica.

For more information on bringing pets to Costa Rica, check out this great online resource livingabroadin.com.

Tiffany Wilson is a real estate investor and an International Real Estate Consultant for Compass Properties, with offices in US and Costa Rica locations.  She is passionate about Costa Rica and loves telling people all about it!  She can be reached at mailto:twilson@compasscostarica.net?subject=Costa%20Rica%20Information.  Check out Compass Properties website at http://www.compassproperties.net/ for more information on Costa Rica real estate opportunities.