Local Laws

All beaches in Puerto Rico are public, except for Balneary and beaches protected by National Parks such as Buyé. Dogs are allowed on beaches with collars, leashes and under supervision by his or her guardian at all times. Must clean up after your pet.

Find a list of all pet-friendly beaches here.

Travel

Vieques and Culebra

The Ferry to Vieques and Culebra allows pets to travel, but they must go inside a pet carrier or kennel. We recommend that your pet is in preventive of fleas and ticks.

Travel within the United States

You must purchase a pet ticket at the time of making your reservation with the airline. On the airline portal, you should find some downloadable documents that you must complete with your pet’s information and that must be signed by your veterinarian. Then you must visit your veterinarian so that he can prepare a travel certificate that you will submit through the airline’s portal up to 48 hours prior to your trip. On the day of your flight, you must go to the counter with an employee and NOT with the registration machines (automatic check-in). You must present the documents to the airline employee. The pet must travel in a kennel that fits under the aircraft seat and must be of a size where the dog can stand up and walk around comfortably. The pet must not leave its package during the entire trip.

Tips for Pet Owners

In addition to compliance with federal regulations and airline company policy, there are a number of precautions the owner/shipper can take to ensure the welfare of a shipped pet.

• Before traveling, accustom your pet to the kennel in which it will be traveling. Make sure that the door latches securely.
• Do not give your pet solid food in the six hours prior to the flight, although a moderate amount of water and a walk before and after the flight are advised.
• Do not administer sedation to your pet without the approval of a veterinarian, and provide a test dose before the trip to gauge how the pet will react.
• Be sure to reserve a space for your pet in advance, and inquire about time and location for drop-off and pick-up.
• Try to schedule a non-stop flight; avoid connections and the heavy traffic of a holiday or weekend flight.
• When you board, try to tell a pilot and a flight attendant that there is a pet in the cargo hold. The airlines have a system for providing such notification, but it doesn’t hurt to mention it yourself.
• For overseas travel (including Hawaii), inquire about any special health requirements such as quarantine.
• Write your name, address and phone number on the kennel, and make sure your pet is wearing a tag with the same information.
• Consider purchasing a temporary tag showing your destination address and phone number. Bring a photo of your pet, in case it is lost.
• With careful planning, your pet will arrive safely at its destination.

For more tips and information visit the US Department of Transportation website here.