One of the main reasons I love Costa Rica so much is that I adopted my dog there. In November 2022, I left Canada to travel the world for 11 months. During my travels, I fell in love with dogs over and over again. At the end of my trip, I met Matéo in Costa Rica, and that’s when I knew I had to bring him home with me. I have a soft spot for street dogs because they often have the most love to give. Matéo is also the most grateful dog I have ever met. In a way, I think we saved each other! Here, I’ll share the process I went through to bring Matéo (formerly known as RJ) to Canada.
This article is based on my experience. The process may vary if you adopt from a different country, so always check the requirements for your specific situation on your government’s website (click here for Canada’s requirements). I hope this article will serve as a helpful guide if you plan to adopt a dog from another country!
- Our Story
- Contacting a Rescue Shelter
- Everything You Need – Kennel, Documents…
- Booking the Flight Home
- Preparing for the Flight
- The Process of Bringing Matéo Back Home
- Cost Breakdown
1
Our Story
Hi, my name is Léonie, and I’ve always dreamed of having my own dog. However, the only thing I wanted more than a dog was to travel for a year after finishing my studies, which I did.
In December 2022, while I was in Portugal, I discovered Costa Rica Dog Rescue online and immediately fell in love with one of their dogs, RJ. At that time, I had just started my year of travel, so I could only admire his profile online. As the months passed, I found myself thinking about him almost every day.
In April, I volunteered at a dog shelter in the Philippines, where I formed an incredible connection with one of their dogs, Roxy. Leaving her behind broke my heart, but the experience sparked the idea of adopting a dog. I knew that adopting a dog would complete my life when I returned to Canada.
In June, I contacted Costa Rica Dog Rescue to express my interest in RJ. They quickly responded, letting me know he was still available for adoption. This marked the beginning of the long process of adopting Matéo.
In early July, I booked a ticket from Costa Rica to Canada for November—for both me and Matéo. Later that month, I met Matéo for the first time at the shelter. I spent a week with him, and he completely stole my heart. I knew I had made the right decision. After finishing my year of travel, I returned to Canada to prepare everything for him.
In November, I traveled to Costa Rica for five days with the sole purpose of bringing Matéo home. Since then, he’s been the most spoiled dog ever, and he’s gradually getting used to his new life.
Now that you know our story, let me explain the process of bringing him from Costa Rica to Canada.
2
Contacting a Rescue Shelter
The first step is choosing a rescue shelter. Here’s what I asked when I contacted Costa Rica Dog Rescue:
- Which dogs are currently available for adoption?
- I expressed my interest in RJ but mentioned my specific criteria. For example, I wanted an active dog that enjoys outdoor activities, gets along well with other animals and children, and loves car rides.
- What does the shelter handle in the adoption process, and what do I need to do?
- What are the adoption fees?
- What are the options for the flight back to Canada?
- How long does the adoption process typically take?
- Is the dog vaccinated and neutered/spayed?
- What does the shelter cover before the flight? For me, this included vaccinations, deworming, CBC tests, and grooming.
Here are some points that helped me realize the shelter I found was reputable:
- Their social media pages had great reviews and comments on each of their posts. People shared their stories about the dogs they adopted, which I found to be a good sign.
- They responded clearly and quickly to my emails. They never misled me or “forgot” to answer any questions.
- They asked for payment only when I picked up Matéo at the airport, never before.
- They assisted me throughout the entire adoption process and handled all the necessary documentation for Matéo.
- The shelter was clean and well-maintained when I visited. There were multiple bowls of water for all the dogs, and the floors were cleaned daily.
- The dogs all received the necessary vaccinations and were either spayed or neutered.
- The staff was clearly passionate about the dogs they cared for. They always shared the life story of each dog I met and updated me on how they were doing.
3
Everything You Need
Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to bring your dog home. The rescue shelter I chose prepared everything for me, but you may need to handle the paperwork yourself if your shelter doesn’t:
- A kennel: It needs to be larger than the standard size so the dog can move comfortably during the flight.
- Exportation documentation: Proof of rabies vaccination by a local veterinarian. Additional documents are a bonus.
- Health certification: Indicates your pet’s breed and health status, signed by a veterinarian.
- Dog’s measurements: Height, length, and weight of the dog (needed to book the flight).
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4
Booking the Flight Home
There are three options I’m aware of:
The recommended option: Travel to Costa Rica and fly back with your dog. Depending on the dog’s size, they may either accompany you in the cabin or be placed in the cargo hold. My dog traveled in the cargo hold, which is the cheapest option. The only complication I faced was booking the flight. The only airline flying from San José, Costa Rica, to Montreal, Canada, with dogs in the cargo hold is Air Transat. I called the airline and booked my flight over the phone to ensure I secured a spot for my dog. However, Air Transat only began flights from Costa Rica to Canada in November, so I had to wait a few months before picking up my dog.
The easiest but most expensive option: Use a transport company like Pet Lounge. This company will handle everything for you, from picking up your dog in Costa Rica to delivering them to your desired location. This option is faster, as you can choose the exact date for transport. However, it’s expensive. The estimated cost for transporting a 25 kg dog from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Toronto, Canada, was $1,278 USD.
An option offered by some shelters: You can wait for a volunteer escort to bring your dog to you. The downside is that you might wait a long time for a volunteer. Additionally, you usually cover the volunteer’s flight cost since they’re bringing your dog. If you’re interested in this option, ask your shelter for more information.
5
Preparing for the Flight
Preparing for the flight is just as important for your dog as it is for you. For Matéo, the shelter ensured he was acclimated to the kennel before the trip. They also withheld food and provided a small bowl of water to ensure his stomach was empty, preventing any accidents (our flight was around 7 a.m.). He had a blanket and a toy he liked with him to provide comfort. As for myself, I bought an Airtag that I placed on the kennel to keep track of Matéo in the airport. Honestly, I was quite nervous about leaving him in his kennel, so I checked in at the last possible minute to minimize the time he spent in it.
6
The Process of Bringing Matéo Back Home
Here’s my experience bringing a dog from Costa Rica to Canada. I was fortunate because the shelter organized everything for me. I simply met them at the airport three hours before my flight, where they had all the documentation and the kennel ready.
Important: Do not feed or give water to your dog before the flight to prevent them from getting sick in the kennel.
We went to the Air Transat counter at San José’s airport, where the staff verified all the documents and placed the appropriate stickers on the kennel (“Live Animal,” “Fragile”). Then, someone took my dog in his kennel directly to the plane.
When I boarded, an Air Transat crew member showed me a picture of Matéo in his kennel on the plane, which I really appreciated. You can ask the staff of your airline to do the same.
When we landed in Montreal, Matéo was waiting for me in his kennel on a special baggage carousel.
He remained in his kennel as we passed through security. They checked his documentation, which took just two minutes. Once we cleared security, we headed to the exit, and it was finally done!
7
Cost Breakdown
Adopting a dog from another country is a lengthy and often costly process. Here is a breakdown of what it cost me to adopt Matéo to give you an idea of what you should expect:
Note: Costs will vary depending on the size of the dog, your destination, the shelter you adopt from, etc.
- Adoption fee: $100 USD ($135 CAD).
- Flight costs: San José to Montreal with Air Transat: $452.41 CAD.
- Transportation (gas from the shelter to the airport): $250 USD ($340 CAD).
- Adoption documents: $125 USD ($170 CAD).
- Kennel: $100 USD ($135 CAD).
Total cost: $1,232.41 CAD
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