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Thanks Scott. It seems to me that in this labyrinthine world of bureaucracy it’s important to understand just HOW the system works and who does what for how much and are those services absolutely vital to the outcome of a particular scenario. The residency process is a prime example, as is importing a pet. I read the article Dr. Molina posted on your site, but even THAT information isn’t up to date as far as the USDA is concerned. Over-vaccination of our pets leads to all kinds of cancers, so if a vaccination isn’t absolutely necessary, then I don’t want my dog to have it. According to the USDA only rabies is REQUIRED for entry into Costa Rica, although damn near every other website list 4 more vaccines that I’d prefer my dog not to have and which are NOT required as of 2004. I realize it’s a case of plus ca change, plus ca la meme chose, so it would be great to have updated info available for everyone.
But what is his ROLE in importing a pet to Costa Rica? This is what I don’t understand. Is he there at the airport when the pet goes through customs? Does he sign off on the pet? If not, then why do I need to “hire” him? I was told by the CR consulate in Denver that THEY had to put stamps on the pet forms, which I then found out is not necessary; that’s it’s just a way for the consulate to get some extra money. I see the ARCR also charges about $80 to bring your pet in, but is this REALLY necessary and has anyone done it without using Dr. Molina or the ARCR? From everything I’ve read about Dr. Molina, he seems like a caring guy, so I didn’t mean to imply he was doing this jsut for the money, but it seems that there are fees for every little thing in this process and sometimes they are an overkill.
one last question: How does the ARCR or Dr. Molina fit into this process? Do they actually DO something at the airport when you bring in a pet or is it just another money-making scheme? David, did you use either of these entitites when you imported your dog? And if you didn’t, what was the procedure at the airport when you went through customs?
Okay, David, I think I’ve got the schedule now for when what has to be done. Thanks for the detailed explanation. The USDA told me that after I’ve faxed the copy of the form to them, I will then have to go there in person to have the original signed, and probably pay whatever fee is required. It’s only about 10 miles from where I live.
Luckily, we had our dog declared a companion animal so it gets to ride with us in the plane, and doesn’t have to be crated at all (he only weighs 20 pounds anyway). In fact, the last time my husband flew with the dog, they bumped him to first class and gave the dog its own seat by the window!
Thanks David, but what I’m still not clear and am getting mixed messages from the USDA and the ARCR regarding all vaccinations except for rabies. The USDA says that ONLY rabies is required and they claim to have the most up to date info provided by the CR gov’t. The ARCR says I need lepto, hepatitis, and parvo plus rabies. My dog is 13 and the less vaccines he has the better as far as I’m concerned. So did your lab have all those other shots, or just the rabies? So how the hell do I time this thing? I’m probably coming back down on the 18 or 22 of January — so if the rabies vaccine has to be given 30 days prior, that’s around the 20th of this month, but if the certificate is only good for two weeks, do I get that later and then submit it to the USDA (which said it was only a day or two turnaround time after we have first faxed a copy of the certificate to them, then I have to go there in person to have it signed). I must sound like a complete dunderhead but all these websites have different answers to the same questions. grrrrrr
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/history04.html
You’ll see that in September 2004 they did away with all requirements except for rabies.
Dryer balls work better than fabric softeners, most of which contain harmful chemicals that are suspected carcinogens. The dryer balls fluff your clothes, cut down on drying time thus saving energy, and do not coat your items with oily chemicals. You can get them on e-bay for about $5.00 a piece with free shipping in the States. Two are recommended for maximum benefit.
I WAS deep breathing the whole time I was being subjected to this fascistic nonsense. I can only imagine how ballistic I would’ve gone had I been stressed out! thank god I have a house and residency in Costa Rica, because I may not come back here at all after seeing just how bad it can get. Did I mention that all of this happened in Dallas? UGH! Never had any kind of problems in any other entry point.
This is getting more and more Kafkaesque by the day.
And in Phoenix, they have installed one of those see-through x-ray machines. Won’t be flying through there anytime soon.
On my recent return from CR, I set off the metal detector with a silver bracelet that I could not undo. The TSA goon immediately yelled “Special treatment here!” and summoned another cohort to my side. I said, calmly, “Isn’t ‘special treatment’ the phrase the Nazis used when they exterminated people?” He told me “get in the booth” that he was pointing at. I told him no way was I getting in there, that I was claustrophobic, and was that the booth where they can see you naked? He then said in a really sinister voice, “that’s okay, ma’am, you don’t have to get in there; we’ll just call a female officer to frisk you,” and when I told him there was no way anyone was going to put their hands on my body, he said, “then I guess it’s the booth for you so we can test you for explosives!” So I got in the booth, they puffed me with air and then I had to stand there while the machine analyzed the dust particles. It took about 60 seconds, then I was told I could pass through security. I was outraged. Even the immigration officers were abusive this trip. When I presented my passport, he said in a very gruff voice, “Welcome to Amerika.” I said, “thank you.” Then he looked at me VERY sternly and said, “what did the sign say?” I said, “what sign?” He said loudly and forcefully, “THE SIGN! WHAT DID IT SAY?” I said, “I don’t know what it said because I don’t know what sign you’re talking about.” He shouted now, “THE SIGN!! WHAT DID IT SAY?” So yet again, I said, “I don’t know what it said! I didn’t see any sign so I can’t tell you.” By now he was red-faced and fuming. He slapped my passport in my hand and mumbled, “We’ll take care of this later!”
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? And are they going to let me out of the country next month or will I be detained and sent to Gitmo???? How big is MY score I wonder?
MaxiBodega is owned by wal-mart, with the same slogan and all. I had mixed feelings about shopping there, but for the miscellenous gadgets I needed to outfit my new house, they had everything I needed.
It’s the CB series and has been for the last year or so. Whenever I come down with large sums of cash I make sure the bank has culled all the bills with that letter combo. It also applies to $50 and $20.
Air fresheners are petrochemicals and contribute to allergies in some people. Same with fabric softener sheets. Better to use dryer balls. They actually work better. I read a report recently that indicated that some of these chemicals are actually carcinogens. Crisco is a hydrogenated transfat, and interferes with the bodies ability to produce certain enzymes and contributes to heart disease and high cholesterol. Be that as it may, when I come down to CR, I always pack things such as organic quinoa, germinated short-grain brown rice, organic green and white tea, good bed linens, towels, down comforters, kitchen utensils, and whatever else I can cram into my 100 pound limit.
Oh, I’ve let it go, until people start vomiting propaganda, and then I know why I’ve left: I can see the depth to which people have been brainwashed by the establishment and are totally incapable of critical thinking. I don’t watch TV, read the newspaper, or listen to the radio news when I’m in Costa Rica — I’m too busy with daily life that is peaceful and not peppered with paranoia, fear, propaganda, and corruption at every level.
I can’t but help to laugh at this blatant disinformation generated by the minister of propaganda and enlightenment. Do you actually BELIEVE anything the CIA or the SIC actually spews? If you do, therein lies your problem. You’ve been propagandized.
good grief, when i read such uninformed b.s. i am thankful to be out of the fourth reich and living in the land of pura vida. you might want to read Gary Webb´s book — can´t remember the name now but it´s an 800 page documentation of our involvement in nicaraguan politics and drug running by the CIA, and yes, Somoza was our pawn — the US put him in power, if you think it was any different than you really are clueless. poor Gary mysterious showed up dead with a bullet in his brain, suicide they say, but there are some doubts about that. when i was first thinking of getting the heck out of teh US iwas going to go to Nicaragua but was told by a spook friend of mine to move to CR instead because the navy seals were being positioned to quell a potential uprising. guess the campesinos just don´t like being lorded over by US interests.
