WRITTEN by JOHN MORRIS
Bringing your pet to Roatan
Let’s face it, animals are a big part of our lives. Many who are moving to Roatan or considering it, wonder if they can bring their beloved pets.
After all, our pets are part of the family, right?
Basically you need to figure it out with the airlines and it is fairly easy to “import” your pet here. Contact a veterinarian on the island, get the proper shots and papers, and you are good to go.
But (isn’t there always a but?) keep a couple of things in mind.
Not all breeds are suited for the Caribbean climate. Some can adjust, some might be uncomfortable… while others do just fine.
We also have a lot of cats and dogs naturally born on the island… and I mean a lot.
Organizations that bring free spay and neuter clinics to Roatan have been working here for several years. These good people endeavor to help keep the population under control but there are still a lot of strays… and much more work to be done.
Fortunately several groups have been formed to rescue, treat and rehabilitate forgotten animals. We even have an animal rescue shelter. Searching the previously mentioned Ask Anything Roatan Facebook page can lead you to places where you can volunteer or donate.
Honduran-born pure breeds are rare here so most dogs are a mix of ‘who knows what’. This can be a good thing and I have found that it tends to make the dog calmer… or a bit quirky. These dogs are often referred to as pot lickers (meaning they will eat anything).
I have two that I refer to as ‘Island Shepherds’. They are a mix of mainly German Shepherd and some of that ‘who knows what’. They are half-brothers, about two years apart but despite being best friends, extremely different.
Spartacus, the older one is obsessed with tennis balls, hiding them all over the house and out in the garden. Fortunately for him, there is a tennis court on the property we manage so supply is never a problem. And by the way, if you want to play tennis here, keep the fence gate closed as he can snag a ball as it passes over the net in an instant!
Triton the youngster, loves to sing. When he was puppy, we would leave the TV on for him when we had to go out. One particular afternoon we came home to him singing along with an opera!
Our good friends down the road have a dog named Max, of no visual breed recognition, and he loves to fish in the sea. He actually caught one… no idea what to do with it but it keeps him going!
Plenty of cats on the island too. I have/had three – one I brought down from the US who lived out her years in peace – and the other two are currently alive and well.
One was forced on us (well maybe just me) at Sundowners when a kitten was walking on the bar. My wife asked who it belonged to and the owner of the bar promptly replied “YOU”! That is Billy #1, or Billy Boy as Barbara calls him.
Last but not least is Billy #2 who we inherited when her owners moved off island. She was 16 or so at the time and that makes her now 20-plus. Billy girl is as sweet as they come, a constant lap companion.
Last year she started to have breathing problems and our veterinarian diagnosed her with asthma, which is almost impossible to treat. Now, instead of meowing, she simply quacks… seriously. Always a good conversation piece for new guests at a dinner party.
So, there you have it – venture to bring an animal to Roatan but as Barbara always says to our clients, be prepared to be adopted by many more!
This Week’s Related Links:
Ask Anything Roatan Facebook page
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