The discussion below about taking a dog to the Bahamas is copied from the MTOA List-Serve.

Hey Y’all,
We will be leaving next weekend from the Sassafras River (Northern Chesapeake) for our trip south and have jumped through the hoops for taking Boomer (our dog) to the Bahamas with us. Based on the permit we received, we need to have the little noise-maker checked by a vet 48 hours prior to arriving in the Bahamas.
Since I am sure other MOTAers have done the same, I though I would pose the question: “Does anyone have recommendations for a vet in the Fort Lauderdale area that is convenient to the waterways?”
Once we enter the Bahamas, we have to have him check again within 48 hours as stated on the permit. Since we are clearing in Bimini or Cat Cay, which has no vet, it appears the first available vet will be in Nassau. Baring weather delays, we will not pass through Nassau until after the 3rd day, which pushes us beyond the 48 hour requirement. Oh well — we are trying…
Thanks to anyone who has a recommendation for a vet in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Ken

Ken
Since you may miss the 48 hr window in the Bahamas, bring plenty of cash for bribery and bail money !
R.

Every time I’ve gone to the Bahamas the only thing they care about is your $300 and whether you carry any guns. Any bullet will sell on the black
market in Nassau for $5 apiece. I carry a 12 gauge and you need to count your ammo at check in.
With the possible exception of Nassau, no one cares about dogs. I’ve never been stopped for anything, anywhere and never even seen BASRA outside of Nassau harbor. There may be a vet in Marsh Harbor or Nassau, but the “pot-licks” never need vets so I’m guessing they are rare.
They do like you to send in your “check-out” form. I got snarled at in South Bimini for having come over twice without having “left”.
Next time we go over with the dogs we’ll take their health records but skip the nonsense paperwork and “beg forgiveness” if we should find someone who cares.
There is a dog story I should tell. Some friends returned from a month in the Bahamas and brought back with them some of the most pesticide resistant fleas vets in the states had ever seen. They finally tore out all their carpeting washed everything with bleach and bombed the boat repeatedly.
The fact is the Bahamas are a third world country. If the “tingum” breaks, you’d better have a spare onboard.
Regards….
Phil & Aven

We’ve taken our cats to the Bahamas numerous times with no problems. I spoke directly with the Bahamas Ministry responsible for pet imports ans she told me that the 48 hour vet requirement was really meant for those arriving by plane. She said that they understand that it is nearly impossible for personal boaters to see a vet within 48 hours of arrival. We have never been asked about pets when we check in at the Bahamas. Our pet permits have only been checked once and that was when we were boarded by the police in Nassau

We took our dog to the Bahamas last year and are heading there again this year. The vet office near Lake Worth called Town and Country was very helpful in giving us a health certificate. You can walk there from the dinghy landing. He provided a signed health certificate and said that I can add the date when we arrive (to avoid the 48hr dilemma.) Someone told me that they changed the rule to ‘˜within one month’ but I haven’t seen anything written as such. We didn’t do the vet check within 48 hrs of arriving in the Bahamas as those instructions were very ambiguous. We checked in at West End and they seemed only interested in the Dept of Agriculture permit. I wrote up some notes on taking a dog to the Bahamas on my web page (http://moondance38.wordpress.com) if you’re interested’¦
S/V Moondance

We’ve brought out dog in the past 3 years. We send for the certificate and have our vet fill it out before we leave the states. (we live in Florida) It is usually signed about 2 weeks before our check-in. Have never had a problem or brought him to a Bahama vet.
Jacki Leahy