Later,
J
QUOTE
Travelling with a Pet from Panama is very difficult
Sunday, May 11 2008 @ 05:37 AM EST
Contributed by: larryrogers
You can see the letter below that was submitted to the President and to the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Health. None of them had the courtesy to reply. Why Panama insists on making it so difficult for dog owners to go and return to Panama with their dog is totally beyond me. Does any one have a suggestion as to how to have the government respond ? Larry Rogers (more)
Canada: 24 Whitehall Rd., Toronto Ontario M4Y 2C6. Tel. (416) 922-2160 Fax. (416) 929-0522 Panama: PH35, Vista Marina, Avenida Balboa y Calle 47, Bella Vista, Panama City Calle A1, Lot A13 & A14, playa, Punta Chame Tel. & Fax (507) 214-1166 (507) 6 675-4996 Larryrogers@cwpanama.net Rogerspugh@hotmail.com
JANUARY 27, 2008
It has been two months since I sent this to you. There has been no reply. Again, I am requesting that you reply to my concerns.
Larry Rogers NOVEMBER 26, 2007 Page 1 of 2
Sunday, May 11 2008 @ 05:37 AM EST
Contributed by: larryrogers
You can see the letter below that was submitted to the President and to the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Health. None of them had the courtesy to reply. Why Panama insists on making it so difficult for dog owners to go and return to Panama with their dog is totally beyond me. Does any one have a suggestion as to how to have the government respond ? Larry Rogers (more)
Canada: 24 Whitehall Rd., Toronto Ontario M4Y 2C6. Tel. (416) 922-2160 Fax. (416) 929-0522 Panama: PH35, Vista Marina, Avenida Balboa y Calle 47, Bella Vista, Panama City Calle A1, Lot A13 & A14, playa, Punta Chame Tel. & Fax (507) 214-1166 (507) 6 675-4996 Larryrogers@cwpanama.net Rogerspugh@hotmail.com
JANUARY 27, 2008
It has been two months since I sent this to you. There has been no reply. Again, I am requesting that you reply to my concerns.
Larry Rogers NOVEMBER 26, 2007 Page 1 of 2
QUOTE
TO:
• 1] LIC GILLERMO SALAZAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE Faxed to 232-5045
• 2] LIC ROSARIO TURNER, MINISTER OF HEALTH Faxed to 512-9240
• 3] LIC MARTIN TORRIJOS, PRESIDENT OF PANAMA Faxed to 527-9095
FROM: LARRY ROGERS, PENSIONADA VISA #02799
I am writing over a serious concern that I have over the way your Ministries handle Panamanian dogs leaving your country and returning to Panama. In my case, I plan to take my dog back to Toronto, Canada seven times a year which will cost me $1,722. in fees and a great deal of time to comply with your requirements . I am sure that you will see the unfairness of your requirements and will make changes.
In order to bring my dog back to Panama, before I leave I must do the following so that I can show these documents to your officials when returning to Panama. First, I must go to my veterinarian for a certificate that my dog is healthy and has his shots. This costs my $25. Then, I must go to Ancon to have the veterinarian’s signature confirmed by the Ministry of Health. When I see this person, I then must go and pay $10. and return with this proof of payment to the official. Then, I must cross the street for another signature. Then, I have to go the Ministry of Agriculture, in Plaza Edison, to see another official for stamps. After seeing this official I have to go and see another official. My payments for this are $21. This takes almost a day as the officials are not always available. Sometimes I must return the next day as one or more of the officials are not available. This paper work is required to return to Panama. Neither the U.S. government, which I must pass through, nor the Canadian government requires these papers. In fact, both governments only require proof of a rabies shot. This is an added penalty to Panamanian residents, with dogs, as those coming with a dog from the U.S. or Canada do not need these Panamanian papers.
To enter the U.S. there is no fee and I only have to show proof of rabies. For Canada, I only have to show proof of rabies and pay a $20. Fee. At all times, there is someone at the airport to handle this unlike in Panama.
When in Canada, I must go to a Canadian veterinarian to obtain a certificate of clearance, at a cost of $65, and have this verified by the Canadian Government at a cost of $25. Again, this is only required by the Panamanian government not the U.S. government nor Canadian government.
Flights from Toronto, via the U.S., always return after 4 p.m. Your veterinarians leave at 4 p.m. which means I would have to either leave my dog in quarantine or stay with him over night. As my veterinarian warned me, for health reasons, not to leave the dog in quarantine, I would have to stay overnight at the airport. Luckily, this has not happened yet. Why not take a passport and ask the person to return the following day with he dog.
What must be done is to phone the veterinarians, from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, to return to the airport. The fee for this is $50. for each veterinarian for a total of $100. For this, I have my driver call the day before my arrival to request that they return to the airport for the arrival of my flight. I have done this two times. On one occasion I had to wait for one and a half hours and another two hours before they both arrived. I was still thankful as if both did not come I would have to stay overnight at the airport. Then, I must pay $140. to the Panamanian government to bring my Panamanian dog back to Panama. As well, I have to pay my driver more for waiting for me.
It is a terrible feeling, every time I return to Panama with my dog, to wonder whether both veterinarians will be there or else I would have to stay overnight.
This time I fly to Toronto on December 8 and return on December 19. Again, I pray that both veterinarians will be able to come to the airport or I shall have to stay overnight at the airport. Again, if you insist on these unreasonable conditions, why could they just not take my passport and ask me to return the following day.
On top of the great inconveniences I also must pay a total of $246 for each trip I take with my dog because of your unreasonable entry requirements.
This problem, as I travel, with my dog, back to Canada six times a year for business reasons, it is making me consider moving back to Florida to live. This is a shame as I love living in Panama. I have invested over $3,000,000, and plan to invest more, in Panama. I employ three Panamanians. I am on the Board of Directors for the Vista Marina Condominium. It is people like me who you should want to encourage to live here.
I did not have a dog when I moved to Panama. If I had have had a dog, I would have checked the requirements, of the Panamanian government, to travel with my dog. Because of this, I would not have moved to Panama. You have encouraging statements about moving to Panama. But, you should include the problems of traveling with an animal. International Living and other Real Estate Companies should warn prospective purchasers about this.
Any reasonable person reading of these ridiculous requirements would realize that this must be changed. I respectfully await a reply to my request for change.
• 1] LIC GILLERMO SALAZAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE Faxed to 232-5045
• 2] LIC ROSARIO TURNER, MINISTER OF HEALTH Faxed to 512-9240
• 3] LIC MARTIN TORRIJOS, PRESIDENT OF PANAMA Faxed to 527-9095
FROM: LARRY ROGERS, PENSIONADA VISA #02799
I am writing over a serious concern that I have over the way your Ministries handle Panamanian dogs leaving your country and returning to Panama. In my case, I plan to take my dog back to Toronto, Canada seven times a year which will cost me $1,722. in fees and a great deal of time to comply with your requirements . I am sure that you will see the unfairness of your requirements and will make changes.
In order to bring my dog back to Panama, before I leave I must do the following so that I can show these documents to your officials when returning to Panama. First, I must go to my veterinarian for a certificate that my dog is healthy and has his shots. This costs my $25. Then, I must go to Ancon to have the veterinarian’s signature confirmed by the Ministry of Health. When I see this person, I then must go and pay $10. and return with this proof of payment to the official. Then, I must cross the street for another signature. Then, I have to go the Ministry of Agriculture, in Plaza Edison, to see another official for stamps. After seeing this official I have to go and see another official. My payments for this are $21. This takes almost a day as the officials are not always available. Sometimes I must return the next day as one or more of the officials are not available. This paper work is required to return to Panama. Neither the U.S. government, which I must pass through, nor the Canadian government requires these papers. In fact, both governments only require proof of a rabies shot. This is an added penalty to Panamanian residents, with dogs, as those coming with a dog from the U.S. or Canada do not need these Panamanian papers.
To enter the U.S. there is no fee and I only have to show proof of rabies. For Canada, I only have to show proof of rabies and pay a $20. Fee. At all times, there is someone at the airport to handle this unlike in Panama.
When in Canada, I must go to a Canadian veterinarian to obtain a certificate of clearance, at a cost of $65, and have this verified by the Canadian Government at a cost of $25. Again, this is only required by the Panamanian government not the U.S. government nor Canadian government.
Flights from Toronto, via the U.S., always return after 4 p.m. Your veterinarians leave at 4 p.m. which means I would have to either leave my dog in quarantine or stay with him over night. As my veterinarian warned me, for health reasons, not to leave the dog in quarantine, I would have to stay overnight at the airport. Luckily, this has not happened yet. Why not take a passport and ask the person to return the following day with he dog.
What must be done is to phone the veterinarians, from the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, to return to the airport. The fee for this is $50. for each veterinarian for a total of $100. For this, I have my driver call the day before my arrival to request that they return to the airport for the arrival of my flight. I have done this two times. On one occasion I had to wait for one and a half hours and another two hours before they both arrived. I was still thankful as if both did not come I would have to stay overnight at the airport. Then, I must pay $140. to the Panamanian government to bring my Panamanian dog back to Panama. As well, I have to pay my driver more for waiting for me.
It is a terrible feeling, every time I return to Panama with my dog, to wonder whether both veterinarians will be there or else I would have to stay overnight.
This time I fly to Toronto on December 8 and return on December 19. Again, I pray that both veterinarians will be able to come to the airport or I shall have to stay overnight at the airport. Again, if you insist on these unreasonable conditions, why could they just not take my passport and ask me to return the following day.
On top of the great inconveniences I also must pay a total of $246 for each trip I take with my dog because of your unreasonable entry requirements.
This problem, as I travel, with my dog, back to Canada six times a year for business reasons, it is making me consider moving back to Florida to live. This is a shame as I love living in Panama. I have invested over $3,000,000, and plan to invest more, in Panama. I employ three Panamanians. I am on the Board of Directors for the Vista Marina Condominium. It is people like me who you should want to encourage to live here.
I did not have a dog when I moved to Panama. If I had have had a dog, I would have checked the requirements, of the Panamanian government, to travel with my dog. Because of this, I would not have moved to Panama. You have encouraging statements about moving to Panama. But, you should include the problems of traveling with an animal. International Living and other Real Estate Companies should warn prospective purchasers about this.
Any reasonable person reading of these ridiculous requirements would realize that this must be changed. I respectfully await a reply to my request for change.
