Mexico has a well-developed passenger bus system. Unlike a number of other Latin American countries, animals are allowed to be transported on Mexican buses, but only in the luggage compartment. The country is large, and Mexicans travel a lot with animals.
The carriage of dogs is covered by the Transport Regulations and Criteria of almost all Mexican bus companies. Many owners panic, thinking that the dog will die from suffocation or exhaust fumes in the luggage compartment. However, this is a completely safe option, since the luggage compartment is well ventilated and exhaust gases do not enter there. Considering the low cost of bus tickets, transporting dogs on a bus over short distances is the best option. Here are just some of the transport lines that accept pets: Estrella Roja, ETN, ADO, Primera Plus, Chihuahuenses, Futura, Autovias, Transportes del Norte, SENDA group lines. In the regions there are a significant number of local carriers who allow the transport of animals and whose transportation rules are much simpler.
Below we provide the basic principles and criteria for transporting animals on Mexican buses. They are not much different based on the company.
The duration of the route should not be more than 8 hours.
The average ambient temperature at any point along the route during the trip should not exceed 30 degrees.
It is allowed to transport dogs, cats, piglets, chickens, turkeys, etc.
Before boarding, the animal must be registered for transportation, in other words, notify the bus company that you are transporting an animal. It is allowed to transport no more than 2 animals per bus, in separate containers.
Animals are allowed to be transported only in the luggage compartment. The carriage of guide dogs and service dogs while on duty is permitted in the cabin, which must be confirmed by the appropriate document. «Emotional support animals» They also have the opportunity to accompany the passenger in the cabin if there is a medical prescription, however, in this case, the decision on admission to the cabin remains with the bus company.
Each passenger has the right to transport 1 piece of baggage weighing up to 25 kg free of charge. If the weight of the animal together with the container does not exceed the permissible value, the animal can be checked in as 1 piece of baggage without additional payment. This means that if you are traveling without checked baggage, you do not have to pay anything to transport your pet. Otherwise, you will have to pay extra for excess or oversized luggage (not for overweight).
A container for any animal should only be rigid, made of durable and waterproof materials, have openings in the walls and/or roof to provide sufficient ventilation, and in addition, a strong and stable entrance door, tightly closed so that the pet cannot escape. The wheels should be removed. It is recommended to place bedding inside. Transportation in unsuitable containers or cardboard boxes is prohibited.
Container dimensions, not less:
- The length of the container is equal to the length of the pet from muzzle to tail plus the length of the front legs (so that the animal can lie down and fully stretch out),
- The width corresponds to twice the distance between the animal’s shoulder blades,
- Container height - the maximum height of a fully standing animal including ears, plus 15 centimeters, counting from the floor of the container to its inner upper part,
The dimensions of the container (about 30x40x100 cm) when transported on a bus are larger than when transported on an airplane, since the bus has the right to jerk when moving, and the animal needs more space to move.
A tag containing the following information should be attached to the container: the name of the passenger, his contact information, the type, breed and age of the animal.
The passenger must have a document confirming the health of the animal and vaccination, valid at the time of the trip. Usually, a corresponding certificate from any veterinarian on his letterhead with a professional license number is sufficient, which indicates that the animal is healthy and vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. If the animal is less than 8 weeks old or is in the gestation period, a veterinarian must confirm that the animal is healthy enough to transport it. There are no special requirements for the validity period of the certificate (most often it is not checked at all), but it is better that it is no older than 10 days. No additional papers are required.
Before the trip, it is recommended to give the animal a sedative. You have the right to use Calmevit, which is widely used to prevent vomiting due to motion sickness and to facilitate the transportation of animals. The dose for dogs is from 1.25 to 2.5 mg of acepromazine (active ingredient) per kg of body weight, that is, from 1 to 2 tablets for every 10 kg of live weight.
When loading a container into the luggage compartment, make sure that it is placed in the most ventilated part of the luggage compartment and that the ventilation openings are not blocked by other suitcases. Loaders are well aware of the rules for transporting animals. It is optimal if the container with animals is loaded last.
At each stop, get off the bus, ask to open the luggage compartment and interact with the animal. Try not to give water to the animal, so that it does not want to go to the toilet.