Strays in Mexico

Stray dogs in Mexico are generally not treated very well, and the most common reaction of street dogs is to dodge when humans come close, probably a conditioned response to having been frequently kicked or stoned or hissed at to scat.

One overblown fear is that you could catch rabies. Years of government vaccination campaigns —since 1990— has reduced this probability to practically zero. In 2005, officials noted 125 cases of rabies among dogs and cats in nine states, compared with more than 3,000 cases in 1990 in 29 states. The latest data from Mexico’s health ministry demonstrate that in 2017 there were just three cases in three states—and not every case affected humans.

According to estimates from health officials, there are around 100,000 reported cases a year of dogs attacking humans, of which nearly half were vaccinated dogs, suggesting that dogs with owners are just as likely (or unlikely) to bite you as strays. This is in a population of 130 million people, and an estimated 18 million to 20 million dogs.

Concerns about stray dogs that have been mentioned by different local governments carrying out round-up campaigns include health problems caused by feces, and in one case in northern Durango state, dogs were said to be a threat to drivers as they crossed the highway.

Precise data are hard to come by

While there appear to be fewer street dogs every time you look, the number of dogs with owners seems to be increasing, along with other security measures in residential areas. (Keeping a dog is a deterrent to burglars.) Statistics in this case don’t go very far—the maze of data on the country’s National Statistics Institute web site turns-up little meaningful data about man’s best friend.

They don’t say, for example, how many dogs get taken for walks every day and how many are left to rot on rooftops, barking in desperation at anyone who walks below, and raising their level of excitement if the pedestrian is accompanied by a dog.

Trends observed by watching dog walkers

A walk in the park —or in one of Mexico City’s trendy neighborhoods where younger generations can be seen walking their dogs instead of pushing baby buggies— of a morning or an evening turns up a fair amount of anecdotal evidence about the habits of people and their dogs. The ‘poop scoop,’ for example, is becoming increasingly common, although it’s still sensible to keep an eye on the ground before you.

In middle-class suburbia, there is a good deal of oneupmanship when it comes to owning a dog. It’s not very practical to staple a pedigree certificate to the animal, and so the more obvious implicit superlatives are biggest, rarest, most expensive—things that people just know and dogs just don’t care about.

With many city dwellers living in apartments, sub-compact dogs appear to be more plentiful than the larger breeds. Schnauzers and Pugs enjoyed a period of popularity in recent years, although their fame has become overshadowed by the Bulldog. But most likely, as more and more people get Bulldogs, and their novelty wears-off, a need will arise for a new “in” dog.

Learn more about caring for pets in Mexico

Mexperience publishes guides and articles about bringing pets to Mexico and caring for them here:

• Latest articles about pets in Mexico
• Dog walkers in Mexico
• Bringing your pets to Mexico

You can take many walks by yourself and never actually speak to anybody you don’t know, much as you might do if you travel on the Metro or in buses. If you are in the habit —as many Mexico City residents are— of driving everywhere, your only communication with your fellow denizens may be a shaking of the head, blowing of the horn, or an untoward hand signal that goes unnoticed by its intended recipient

Striking up a conversation becomes more or less necessary, however, when you come face-to-face with someone who, like you, is on the defensive end of a leash being stretched to its limit by a pet whose intentions could be anything from simple acquaintance to a battle to the death.

This is as good a time as any to establish your “dog-expert” credentials.

You could start out with, ¿qué raza es?, which would be OK as long as the other’s dog isn’t a German Shepherd, a Labrador, or some other well-known breed.

Many dog breeds are the same in Spanish as in English or their original language. Examples are Rottweiler, Doberman, Schnauzer, Bulldog, Boxer. Others are literal translations, for example, pastor alemán (German Shepherd), pastor inglés (English Sheepdog), gran danés (Great Dane).

For some breeds, the habit of using an English adjective and turning it into a Spanish noun is applied. So a French Poodle becomes “un french,” a Golden Retriever “un golden,“ and a Cocker Spaniel, “un cocker.”

A mongrel in Mexico is described as corriente, or callejero (street dog), criollo, or euphemistically, cruzado con corriente (cross with mongrel).

Another possible opener, ¿es macho o hembra? would show you know that, ordinarily, there ought to be no problem if they are opposites, although it could do severe damage to your pose as someone who knows all about dogs.

¿Muerde? is probably the most sensible, yet impractical question. Besides, the growling and barking may only be directed at the other dog, and could also be mere frustration at being held back by a chain.

Anyway, once the preliminaries have been dispensed with, and a decision made whether to allow the dogs to associate freely, come what may, the owners can then get introduced and share impressions on the one thing they apparently have in common—a love of dogs.

Where you would expect to hear things like, what do you feed it? does he sleep indoors or outdoors? has she been spayed? what you actually get are things like, she’s normally quite sociable, he only fights if he’s afraid, he thinks he’s bigger than he actually is.

The habit of attributing psychological or sociological characteristics to an irrational quadruped appears to say more about the owner than the dog, but in any case it serves to get people talking to each other who might otherwise not so much as exchange a “good day.”

Sometimes you’ll come away from these meetings shaking your head and saying to yourself, “I can’t believe I said that!” And the dog, now more settled after a romp in the grass or a bit of a scrap, would probably agree if it could.

Bringing dogs and cats to Mexico

Domesticated dogs and cats are relatively easy to bring to Mexico: you are allowed to import two pets per person provided that each animal’s zoo-sanitary paperwork is in order.  You can import up to 3 pets at no charge; If you bring 4 or more pets with you, you’ll need to pay import processing fees.

Regardless of how many pets you bring, if you’re arriving from a country other than the US or Canada you’ll need to have certain veterinary paperwork in order when you arrive that demonstrates that the animal is in good health and that its vaccinations are current. If you’re flying to Mexico, airlines also have rules and procedures to follow in regard to transporting pets; you can find general advice about this, as well as information about the zoo-sanitary paperwork on the Mexperience guide to Bringing Pets to Mexico.

When you arrive at the port of entry in Mexico, you’ll need to attend the SAGARPA desk/kiosk, where an official from the Mexican ministry of agriculture (SAGARPA-SENASICA) will check the documentation if required, undertake a physical review of the animal(s) and, provided everything is in good order, will issue you with an import certificate.

Importing other pets to Mexico

According to the Mexican Customs website, other common pets including: canaries, hamsters, guinea pigs, Australian parrakeets, cockatiels, ferrets, parrots, tortoises, and small wild birds (but not predatory birds) can be brought to Mexico as part of the duty-free 3-pet allowance—if you have 4 or more pets, you need to pay import duties.  All pets must pass zoosanitary inspection at the port of entry.

Airline restrictions: If you are flying to Mexico, check with the airline about restrictions they may have in place regarding the transportation of pets other than cats and dogs.

Importing any animal other than common pets defined in the Customs list requires more effort.  You’ll might need export permits from your home country, and an import permit from Mexico.

Some animals (or species), even those listed on the common pet allowances may be banned from either export from your country of departure and/or import to Mexico.

Contact your nearest Mexican Consulate for details if you want to import any animals or pets to Mexico that are not considered common pets.

Taking your pets abroad from Mexico

If you’re resident in Mexico and plan to take your pet abroad for a short while, you’ll need to check the requirements of the country you are traveling to and ensure that you have the necessary health certificates ready to present to the authorities overseas.

Some countries have quarantine regulations in place, and if this is the case your pet will need to be quarantined (at your expense) for a determined period upon arrival.

Exit permit from SAGARPA

You will need an exit permit for your pet when you leave Mexico: this is issued by SAGARPA who will also undertake a visual inspection of your pets to assess their state of health.  This certificate is only valid for six months, so if you plan to be outside of Mexico for more than six months, you’ll need to get health certificates and vaccinations from a veterinary abroad (see procedures above about bringing pets into Mexico) before you return otherwise you won’t be allowed to re-import the pets.

Learn more about importing pets to Mexico

You can find more details about the procedures, as well as links to relevant websites, on the Mexperience guide to Bringing Your Pets to Mexico.

What mostly came along, it seems looking back—were pets. Granted, pets aren’t a common window on a country: but they’re still a window, if you’re a kid.  Give a ten year-old a choice between a new video game and a live iguana – I say he’ll take the iguana, or regret it for the rest of his life.

And iguanas in Mexico are barely entry-level mascots; there was a pet shop near me in Mexico City that had a lion one day. It had squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, and ocelots. It sometimes had a raccoon. Some leopard cubs once appeared. A panther. A Bengal tiger. It was better than the zoo, and you could take the animals home. Coming from my old white-underwear culture, where dogs and cats are the apex of pethood, where a ferret is exotic, this was a Tarzan movie. You didn’t even have to go to a pet shop—songbirds, salamanders, snakes, and turtles sold on street corners.

Then this place near me had a lion one day. And a raccoon. Our nearest Gigante supermarket had piranha. Piranha.

I don’t have to tell you the visions all this can inspire in the young. Me with my lion. My leopard at the supermarket – excuse me could you hold the leopard. I’ll just park the panther. The same equation was playing out in domestic animals as in food, I’d come from a meat and potatoes kind of place to an enchilada and mole kind of place; and consistent with this, dogs and cats were upgraded to lions and tigers. In fact everything was upgraded to something bigger, and freer, when I reached Mexico.

Understand, I hadn’t yet embarked on the lesson of why animals or people should be free. My instinct, surrounded by birds and lions and monkeys in cages, was to free them by bringing them home. And so this was the period when that lesson played out—because I brought home all the creatures I could find.

Now: I never got a lion. And I knew I didn’t have a hope in hell of convincing my father that I’d look after a tiger. Nor a panther, leopard, or monkey. No way, once the maids ended up with the canary. But after climbing the pet ladder through lizards and snakes, through salamanders, rabbits, parrots and hamsters, after moving up into creatures of field and stream —like ducks and exotic chickens— I thought I should have a shot at the raccoon. Well, you could almost pass it off as a kind of guinea pig.  A ring-tailed, flamboyant kind of guinea pig.

I mounted a campaign on my father for the raccoon. I tended my menagerie, did my chores, and worked on him. The raccoon would be my true friend from the wild, the real wild. I admit I was slightly in awe of the challenge because it really was the wild. And the lesson of freedom was already starting to bite, it began when I asked the man in the pet shop how you could keep any of these pets —especially the lions and tigers— without dying horribly. He said their claws had been removed, but I wasn’t convinced they’d feel more kindly towards us after that little procedure.  Plus, looking at three meter-lengths of Bengal tiger, I wasn’t sure it mattered. Anyway what was the point of having a creature you had to disarm in order to even survive? Compared to a raccoon, anyway.

I eventually got the raccoon. He was great and smart, and had a detailed emotional and psychological life. He rode my shoulders to the supermarket. He stole cake from the kitchen but wasn’t an animal, compared to the animal I was. I was humbled by the so-called animals, and slowly tempered by the pain of their passing lives. That’s what pets were for. Still we lived a span, and it was rich because we were animals in Mexico.

The last time I was in Mexico City I went up to the pet shop, but it’s gone. It used to sit just over the corner from Bazar Del Sabado in San Angel. From the cobbled street outside you could see the creatures flash through the dark of the doorway.

But I looked on the internet and saw that things are the same in Mexico, still an Aztec parade with furs and pelts and plumes. Now you can get lemurs, meerkats and sugar-gliders on top of your lions and tigers. So today, although I write from a distant place famous for white underwear and meat and potatoes, from that grey, almost flavorless non-Mexican world where I have no pets – I know just where to go and get one.

I know it’s unfashionable, unliberal. But give a kid a choice between fashionable, liberal, and a live iguana – and he’ll take the iguana every time. Or regret it for the rest of his life.

Most people probably have at least one neighbor who keeps a dog — or several dogs — either on the roof or locked up in the front yard, and never seems to take them out. Maybe they just don’t have the time, or perhaps they don’t really like dogs and just keep them for security.

Either way, there is no excuse for a dog to be cooped up that way. There are plenty of people in Mexico who for a fee will take dogs for walks. They could be students earning some money in their spare time, or “professional” dog carers who can handle ten or more dogs at once. And of course, the more dogs that are walked at a time means greater income for the walker.

The “pros” can be seen in any number of residential neighborhoods walking a collection of pooches — Chihuahuas, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Labradors and Pit Bulls together is hardly surprising.

The interesting thing is that the dogs never seem to fight. Dogs know who feed them, and they also know who take them out.

Owning a dog for security is a worthwhile proposition in Mexico, where many people are wary of them, and some positively petrified by them.

A number of websites exist where people can offer their services as dog carers, dog walkers or trainers, or find someone to look after their pet. Hourly walking fees appear to range from $50 to $150 pesos. The better sites have apps, and the competition would appear to be quite brisk. Two examples are Cuidamascota and Paséame — I haven’t actually tried any of these.

Learn more about caring for pets in Mexico

Mexperience publishes guides and articles about bringing pets to Mexico and caring for them here:

• Latest articles about pets in Mexico
• Street dogs in Mexico
• Bringing your pets to Mexico

This guide gives you the details about how to prepare for the transport and importation of your pet(s) to Mexico and taking your pet(s) back to your home country, as well as sharing practical information about keeping your pets in Mexico.

See Also: On Importing Pets and Animals to Mexico

How to bring your pets to Mexico

If you plan to take your cat(s) and/or dog(s) to Mexico, here are the guidelines you’ll need to follow so that you can get your pets transported on the airline (if you are flying) and gain entry to Mexico with your pets at the border.

If you plan to bring other animals to Mexico, e.g. birds, then you will need undertake further procedures to acquire additional permits for export (from your country) and import (to Mexico) of the animals, e.g. birds, reptiles.

Taking pets to Mexico on airlines

Each airline has its own rules about taking pets when you travel (and how many pets they will transport per passenger or family group). Following are universal guidelines that will apply to most airlines. You should, however, check your airline’s web site for latest details and policies and call them for clarification if necessary.

Crates and Kennels: The airline will require you to use a purpose-built crate (for cats) or kennel (for dogs) if you want to transport them on the airline. Cardboard or plastic boxes and other make-shift containers will not be accepted.

Health Certificates: According to SENASICA, If you are not traveling from the USA or Canada, you will need to show a health certificate from a veterinary surgeon.

Excess Baggage Fees: Fees vary by airline — check with them for details. If you have a big dog (combined weight of kennel and animal greater than 100lbs) then the dog may have to be transported separately (as cargo). Airlines have been restricting baggage allowances and increasing fees for excess baggage of late, so be sure to check this detail with your airline so that you understand the additional costs involved.

Proper Labeling on Crates and Kennels: Your full name, address and telephone contact numbers (at destination) need to be clearly displayed. The crate should indicate which way is up, and the words “LIVE ANIMALS” (in capital letters) should be prominently displayed. Your pet(s) should also be properly tagged.

Interior of Crates and Kennels: The interior should have some sort of absorbent lining to absorb any urine or feces. Shredded newspaper will work if you don’t have a purpose made material from a pet store. Do not place food or water inside the crate or kennel but instead place two dishes inside which airline staff may make use of. Some people freeze water in a dish, which melts during the flight providing your pet with water if it gets thirsty.

Upon Arrival: Have food and water ready for your pet. Mexican authorities will allow you to import a reasonable ration of dry food for your pet to eat whilst in-transit. You may place these items inside the crate or kennel; keep water containers and food packets sealed. You will need to present your health certificates to the zoo sanitary kiosk at the port of entry in Mexico for your pet to be allowed into the country. See detailed arrival information, below.

See Blog: A Park Full Of Schnauzers

Arriving with your pet in Mexico

You are permitted to import two pets (cats, dogs, or a cat and dog) into Mexico. This limit is per person, so if you are a couple, you can import up to 4 pets.  Note that if you import more than 3 pets, you will need to pay additional fees.  See the website links below for details and procedures.

If you are NOT traveling from the USA or Canada, before you travel, your veterinary surgeon needs to provide you with a health certificate for each pet, issued by an official authority or by a licensed veterinarian in your home country, that should include proof of vaccines against rabies and distemper, administered at least 15 days before the arrival of your pet in Mexico.  If you live in the US or Canada you do not need to present this certificate.

The documents (an original and one photo copy) must be presented on official documentation (i.e. headed and/or sealed paper) provided by a competent authority or veterinarian and include:

• Your name and address in your country of residence, and the address of where you will be staying with your pet in Mexico
• A description of the animal(s)
• The date the animal(s) were vaccinated against rabies and distemper and the vaccination’s expiry date. (Animals less than three months old are exempt from this requirement.)
• A declaration from the veterinarian to state that, prior to your journey, the animal(s) appeared clinically healthy; and that the animals have been de-wormed internally and externally within six months prior to arrival in Mexico
• If you fail to comply with these requirements, you will be offered an opportunity to contact a vet in Mexico (at your expense) to attend the port of entry and issue the required documents.

Source: SENSAICA, Translated from the Spanish in good faith

On arrival at the port of entry (land, sea or air), take your pet(s) to the zoo sanitary kiosk (look for the acronym SAGARPA/SENSAICA which the Ministry responsible for this process) at the port of entry and present the documentation to facilitate your pet’s entry into Mexico.

Importing other pets to Mexico

According to the Mexican Customs website, other common pets including: canaries, hamsters, guinea pigs, Australian parrakeets, cockatiels, ferrets, parrots, tortoises, and small wild birds (but not predatory birds) can be brought to Mexico as part of the duty-free 3-pet allowance—if you have 4 or more pets, you need to pay import duties.  All pets must pass zoosanitary inspection at the port of entry.

Airline restrictions: If you are flying to Mexico, check with the airline about restrictions they may have in place regarding the transportation of pets other than cats and dogs.

Importing any animal other than common pets defined in the Customs list requires more effort.  You’ll might need export permits from your home country, and an import permit from Mexico.

Some animals (or species), even those listed on the common pet allowances may be banned from either export from your country of departure and/or import to Mexico.

See this page for more details, or contact your nearest Mexican Consulate for details if you want to import any animals or pets to Mexico that are not considered common pets.

See also: On Importing Pets and Animals to Mexico

Practical information about keeping pets in Mexico

If you plan to bring your pet to Mexico as part of a lifestyle change, for example, if you plan to retire here or live here part-time, or if you plan to visit Mexico with your pet, here are some practical tips:

Traveling with pets in Mexico: If you have your own car and transport your pets, be sure to take sufficient supplies with you on longer road trips; especially water. Don’t leave your pets locked-up alone in the car when it’s parked on a hot day as doing so may be fatal to them, especially if you leave the car exposed to the sun.

Taking pets on Mexico’s buses: Bus companies will transport cats and dogs in the hold, provided that they are traveling in a pet crate.  Be sure to provide your pet with plenty of water and some food for longer journeys.  Service pets are allowed to travel on-board; check with the bus company for detailed policies.
See also: Traveling by bus in Mexico.

Pet supplies: You can buy pet food and other supplies from all major supermarkets, and there are also a number of chain stores that cater specifically to pets in Mexico; the main ones are Petco, Petsy, +Kota, and Petland.

Vets and medical supplies: Vet surgeries are plentiful across Mexico and there is at least one vet even in smaller rural towns.  Vet fees in Mexico are a small fraction of those charged in the US and Europe and pet medications are less expensive here, too. Look online for vets in your locale, or ask locally for a recommendation.

Taking dogs for walks: Parks in larger towns and cities are where most urban pet owners take their dogs for a daily walk.  Larger towns and cities also have a cottage industry of dog walkers available. In rural areas, owners may take their dogs for walks in the countryside.  It’s considerate to pick-up any dog mess and some towns and cities provide bins for disposal of dog waste at parks.

Dog walks on the beach: You can take dogs for walks on most beaches in Mexico; however some beaches in the most popular tourist areas (particularly those in Cancún and Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos) now have signs up prohibiting dog-owners from taking their dogs on certain stretches of the beach. Check locally for details.

Pet-friendly restaurants: Some local restaurants, especially in rural towns and villages, will be amenable to well-behaved dogs.  Most restaurants in larger cities and tourist areas will not accept pets indoors, except service dogs. Some restaurants may have an outdoor seating area where pets are welcome; check locally.

Pet-friendly accommodations: Most hotels and BnBs in Mexico do not allow pets to stay, with the exception of service pets who cannot be denied by law. When you search for a hotel or BnB online, check the option on the booking portal for pet-friendly hotels and this will filter out those that do accept pets.

Pet sitting and kennels: If you plan to go on a trip and don’t take your pets, you might ask a good neighbor or a friend to look after them in your absence.  For longer trips, you might ask someone to house-sit for you (and look after your pets while you’re away) or you can take your pets to a local kennel.  See the useful sites links at the end of this guide for links to kennels and catteries.

Leaving Mexico with your pets

When you leave Mexico with your pets, you will need to go online and search to find out what paperwork and procedures are required to re-import your pet back to your home country (or the country you plan to visit). Some countries have quarantine regulations in place which means that your pet will need to be quarantined (at your expense) for a determined period upon arrival before you can take it home with you.

Usually, the paperwork required to re-import your pet to your home country is similar to that Mexico requires to bring your pet to Mexico. Check with your country’s customs regulations for details.

You will also need an exit permit for your pet when you leave Mexico. This is issued by SAGARPA, the Mexican agricultural ministry who will also undertake visual inspection of your pet(s) to asses its state of health.  This is only valid for six months. If you plan to be outside of Mexico for more than six months, before you return with your pet(s), you’ll need to get health certificates and vaccinations from a veterinary abroad before you can re-import the pet(s) to Mexico.

Useful web sites for pet owners in Mexico

Here is a list of useful contacts in relation to bringing your pets to Mexico as well as keeping pets in Mexico:

List of Requirements (Spanish) – The official government page that sets out the requirements for the import or cats and dogs to Mexico.

SAGARPA – The Mexican Agricultural Ministry, which is also responsible for zoo sanitary matters

SENASICA – Is related to SAGARPA and deals with the import/export of pets, animals and agricultural products.  This page on their website contains information about importing pets to Mexico

SEMARNAT – Also related to SAGARPA, this ministry is responsible for environmental matters and you may need to refer to them if you plan to import pets other than cats or dogs

Mexican Kennel Association – Part of the International Kennel Association; this web site also has a link to the Mexican Cattery Association

Canine Carriers – If you want someone else to take care of your pet’s entry and exit from Mexico, you may hire a private firm like this one

Mexican Vets – Click the link to open Mexico’s online yellow pages. Search for the word veterinarios in your local area.

Mexican Consulates Abroad – Find your nearest Mexican Consulate in your home country

Foreign Consulates in Mexico – Find your country’s consulate in Mexico

Mexicans in general don’t treat dogs very well, and the most common reaction of street dogs is to dodge when humans come close, probably a conditioned response to having been frequently kicked or stoned or hissed at to scat.

One overblown fear is that you could catch rabies. Years of government vaccination campaigns—since 1990—has reduced this probability to practically zero. In 2005, officials noted 125 cases of rabies among dogs and cats in nine states, compared with more than 3,000 cases in 1990 in 29 states. The latest data from Mexico’s health ministry demonstrate that in 2015 there were just six cases in two states—and not every case affected humans.

According to estimates from health officials, there are about 110,000 reported cases a year of dogs attacking humans, of which nearly half were vaccinated dogs, suggesting that dogs with owners are just as likely (or unlikely) to bite you as strays. This is in a population of 120 million people, and an estimated 18 million to 20 million dogs.

Concerns about stray dogs that have been mentioned by different local governments carrying out round-up campaigns include health problems caused by feces, and in one case in northern Durango state, dogs were said to be a threat to drivers as they crossed the highway.

While there appear to be fewer street dogs every time you look, the number of dogs with owners seems to be increasing, along with other security measures in residential areas. Statistics in this case don’t go very far—the maze of data on the country’s National Statistics Institute web site turns-up little meaningful data about man’s best friend.

They don’t say, for example, how many dogs get taken for walks every day and how many are left to rot on rooftops, barking in desperation at anyone who walks below, and raising their level of excitement if the pedestrian is accompanied by a dog.

A walk in the park of a morning or an evening, however, turns up a fair amount of anecdotal evidence about the habits of people and their dogs. The ‘poop scoop’, for example, is becoming more and more common, although it’s still sensible to keep an eye on the ground before you.

In middle-class suburbia, there is a good deal of oneupmanship when it comes to owning a dog. It’s not very practical to staple a pedigree certificate to the animal, and so the more obvious implicit superlatives are biggest, rarest, most expensive— things that people just know and dogs just don’t care.

With many city dwellers living in apartments, sub-compact dogs appear to be more plentiful than the larger breeds. Schnauzers and Pugs enjoyed a period of popularity in recent years, although their fame has become overshadowed by the Bulldog. But most likely, as more and more people get Bulldogs, and their novelty wears-off, a need will arise for a new “in” dog.

See Also: Bringing Pets to Mexico