housing off campus with pets first year>>

[**MD2B**]

Can anyone offer me information on whether or not you are allowed to live off campus if you are a first year SABA student? I am married and my spouse would be traveling there to see me. I also have two cats that I want to bring with me. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Do cats have to be quaranteened if they have their immunizations? There is not a problem flying with them. They both fit in a soft carrier and travel very well. I just did not know what the rules for pets are in Saba.

[ducman]

I know that you are allowed to live off campus during your first semester only if you are married or if the dorms fill up and the school itself has to place you in off campus apartments.

As for pets, it depends on your landlord. Some students do have pets. There is no quarantine between the US and Saba for any pets as there is no animal diseases on the island.

Hope this helped.

[**MD2B**]

Thanks so much! That did help!!! Appreciate your time as do my siamese boys Sam & Cezar!

[canadianhopeful]

Does anyone know how long pets are allowed to stay on the island?

Thanks!

[awelchnp]

I don't know if there is a time limit or not. I had my dog with me for 4 of the 5 semesters that I was on the island. I did however take him home with me for semester breaks. Hope this helps.

[Rebbster18]

Hey
Just wanted to put in my two cents on the pet situation. I decided to stay on campus for first semester and leave my pets and fiancee at home. It made the semester emotionally very difficult but I am glad that I made the decision! It made getting adjusted to school life much easier and I made friends that I never would have if I lived off campus.

My fiancee brought our two dogs, two cats, and three rabbits with him when he came down over the break between first and second. We got health certificates for all of them and updated their shots before we came but NO ONE looked at any of the paperwork..... You will understand when you see Saba's Immigration department ;)

Since we have been here, we have been "given" two more dogs......

If you get a good landlord pets wont be your problem, it did take me almost the ENTIRE semester to find a landlord willing to take the pets.... and I do pay more for my place.....

If you are going to bring dogs to the island, I would REALLY recommend sending a bunch of bags of food over via ******* Free. The food here on the island is easily twice that of the states, and you have the option of Science Diet or Purina. So expect to spend 60-70 dollars on a large bag of food.

Cat food is priced almost the exact same as in the states but again, Science diet and purina will be your options. However, My Store in the bottom has all of the different sub-types of Science diet so if your cat needs any special food (sensitive skin, sensative stomach, weight management, etc.... ) you will be able to get it here!!!!

The vet here is um how to say it nicely.... less than competant... so dont expect great service or knowledgable advice from him. Plus he only comes once a semester (Twice if we are lucky) so if your animal has any medical conditions I would be weary of bringing them here without setting something up with your vet back home first.

Finally, I took two of my dogs home this break to go to the vet and not a soul questioned about the dogs. Everyone is aware Saba doesnt have disease and so it is really a BREEZE getting them on and off the island!

If you guys need any more info, feel free to email me (FLBecca18@yahoo.com) I know I had a really hard time finding info about animals when I was looking to come here so hopefully this helps some of you out!!!!!!

[sasissy]

Here is some more info.

Our dog is an "in cabin" pet and we have been taking her back and forth for 8 semesters. This past break coming back on USAir (which we always use) they held us and the plane up in Charlotte because she is not microchipped. Neither Saba nor St. Maarten has a reader but the site for St. Maarten says that they must be microchipped. We will get her done when we go home in April for the reasons that Rebbster said about the lack of vet service here.

Another thing is that the airlines have either reduced the number of pets allowed on the flights or eliminated them altogether. When we first came we would just pay for her when we got to the airport but now I make her reservation before I buy our tickets. We got stung having to pay lots of money to change our tickets as the allowwed # had already been met. USAir charges $100 each way for an in cabin pet and they count as your carry on luggage.

Once you get to St. Maarten and/or Saba they never even look at the pet!

I have heard that the number of landlords willing to take pets has decreased a good deal lately.

Hope this helps