Dogs and cats can be brought into Belize without quarantine. Owners must get a certificate from a veterinarian after an examination not more than 48 hours before to shipment stating that the animal is free from infectious diseases and has been vaccinated for rabies not less than one month and no more than six months before departure.
Bringing a pet into the country falls under live animal importation and is regulated by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA). Domestic pets are allowed to enter the country provided their owners have a valid import permit, international veterinary certificate, a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and that their pets have been inspected by a quarantine officer. There is a US$12.50 entry fee, plus a US$12.50 fax fee.
To apply for an import permit, request an application form from the Permit Unit of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, and then return the completed form to the same agency. The date of arrival must be specified. Approved permits will be faxed to the applicant at a cost of US$12.50 to be paid at the point of entry on the day of arrival. If you don't follow this application process, you will be subject to a US $100 violation fine in addition to the US $12.50 entry fee.
Small dogs and cats can usually be carried in the cabin of scheduled commercial airlines. For larger animals, American and Continental are two of the airlines flying into Belize that ship pets. Pets are transported in pressurized cargo holds. Charges vary depending on the weight of the animal. Continental charges about US$200 to fly a 50-pound dog from the United States to Belize. There are also cargo airlines that transport pets, including AmeriJet, which has service from Miami to Belize. You can also drive through Mexico with your pets.
Not all pets adapt well to Belize's subtropical climate. Mange and venereal disease are endemic. Rabies occasionally shows up in rural areas, vectored by vampire bats and other wild things.
Belizeans generally do not have the same view of pets as Americans do. They rarely allow dogs in the house, for example. Dogs are used more as watchdogs than companions. You don't see many cats in Belize. It's possible they've been eaten by the dogs or wild animals. In rural areas, you will see a number of wild animals, such as howler and spider monkeys and the smaller wild cats, kept as pets (even though it is often against the law).
