Henry & Milo Go To Panama!

Henry, our 30 lb. Brussels Griffon dog, came into our lives in 2014, and we think he was about two years old. Milo, our 13 lb. Manx cat, arrived in 2016, and she was just weeks old. Both had been dumped at our work office. While we don’t know what their lives were like before, we do know that they changed our lives forever, and we could not have dreamed of coming to Panama without our fur babies.

Now that we are here and settling in nicely, I have to tell you that all the hoops we jumped through to get our documents prepared, digitizing our important papers and photos, giving away, and selling all our “stuff.” Those things were easy compared to getting Henry and Milo out of the United States. Yes, getting them into Panama was not an issue. Getting them out of the United States was the hardest part of our whole journey. 

We first had to get all their immunizations documented with a USDA-approved veterinarian. Our family veterinarian was approved, but they did not have access to the electronic submission for the USDA. Pre Covid, you could walk into any USDA to have your pet’s paperwork certified. Post Covid that is not an option. You can mail it, but the Panamanian Consulate must also authenticate the paperwork.

There is a second health document required by the airlines (these used to be combined). These documents can’t be more than ten days old when you arrive in Panama. We also had to travel to Orlando, FL, for a direct flight to Panama. Airlines will not fly pets internationally in cargo with connecting flights. This timeline made electronic submissions the only option. We called all over the Nashville area and finally found Wendy Graham at The Animal Clinic in Hendersonville, TN. She cares passionately about her work. She is knowledgeable and experienced.

Once the documents were submitted electronically to the USDA, it took three full business days to get them back. We then overnighted them with a prepaid return envelope to the Panamanian Consulate in Washington, D.C. This also took three full business days to process and another business day to receive back. Factor in the weekend, and this is a tight timeline. 

We got it all back the day before we drove to Orlando, Florida, to check in with cargo for the required inspection of Henry and his crate 24 hours before our flight. The staff at cargo were so nice and helpful, giving us tips to make Henry’s flight more comfortable. Once they inspected Henry and the crate, they weighed the crate with Henry in it. We had to leave the crate at cargo overnight. Cargo in Orlando opens at 8 am. The staff came in early to check Henry in the next morning for our flight. Last hugs and ear rub with the promise to see him soon, and in the crate he went. 

Milo, being under 20 lbs, would fly in the cabin with us. First, we had to check in and get through security. Presenting all of her documents at check-in was simple. Taking her out of her crate at security for the crate to be scanned was a little challenging, and then we successfully got her back into the crate on the other side. Milo was so good on the flight. 

Finally landing in Panama was such a relief. We had hired Josè with Golden Frog, a pet transportation and travel support company, to help us get through customs and drive all of us to our rental house. Josè already had provided copies of our pet documents to the airport veterinarian. We just had to show him the original documents when we arrived. The veterinarian had already checked Henry by the time we got our luggage and proceeded through our last checkpoint. He then checked Milo, and we were officially done. We were so grateful that this part of our adventure was behind us, and that we had all safely arrived in Panama.