Costa Rica Forum

damonre
Joined 2011
Posts: 98

11 years ago

Our Move experience thus far (Dog Owners)

11 years ago

My wife and I are in our thirties and just moved our lives to Costa Rica. We sold our condo, cars and many possessions over the last 18 months. We packed away some things to be shipped later by a friend back home, put what we could not live without in 6 large bags (45-50 lbs ea) and brought our somewhat aggressive 43 lb dog in his crate. The dog was my biggest concern. He is a sweetheart with anyone he knows but is a scaredy-cat with a jaw that can cause damage if he choose to exercise his fears... which would be bad. In the end we decided that since he was crate trained, and since he feels safe and at home in that crate, then he should be fine. And we were right. We did pay for a broker and did not fly United. They wanted us to buy an all-metal crate (we had already purchased a new travel crate) per the breed, pay for a broker, and then pay for shipping. The cost exceeded the perceived emotional value. American Airlines was awesome. The handlers assured us that they do not mess with any dog, assuming it may be unpredictable. They just move them. We even flew a connection! LAX to MIA to SJO. In MIA we saw him being moved from one plane to the next. The flight attendants will tell you if he made it on as assurance if you want and AA let us give him a mild sedative (not a tranq). In SJO, he came through on carousel 4 and seemed just fine. He did however, destroy his pee-pads. I didn't expect him not to be afraid... I just wanted him to be safe.
So, here we are... we have made a stop in Heredia with some friends to finalize our submission for residence and then off to Guanacaste to explore and find a home.

Pura Vida Maes.

Damon

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

Living in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

Costa Rica Forum
Join our Costa Rica forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Costa Rica.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

If you're dreaming about living in Costa Rica, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica in 2023.

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.

Cost of Living in Costa Rica

If you're moving to Costa Rica, you'll want to understand the cost of living in Costa Rica. Lifestyle, location and health insurance are part of the formula.

Moving to Costa Rica Guide

Moving to Costa Rica has become more popular among expats. Making this choice requires a lot of research to ensure the expat experience you hope for will be realized.

Real Estate in Costa Rica

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Costa Rica.

Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Costa Rica.

Retiring in Costa Rica

Advice for people retiring in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Visa & Residency Guide

Applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a daunting process. Which type of residency is right for me? Do I need an attorney? Do I have to leave the country every 90 days? What is a cedula? This article answers these and many other questions.

10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica

If you've recently arrived in Costa Rica, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Costa Rica.

Additional Information:

Visit our Costa Rica Index for a Full List

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Costa Rica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.