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Is CANDi only a US registered charity? Yes, CANDi is only registered in the US as a charity (registration no. 20-5299890). How can Canadians make a donation to support CANDi? Canadians who would like to make a donation to CANDi can do so through Tides Canada Foundation and request that their gift be directed to the CANDi - Cats and Dogs International Fund. All donations made on-line will be issued a tax receipt by Tides Canada Foundation. However, donations by cheque or securities will only be issued a tax receipt for donations of $50 or more. Why is CANDi not building animal shelters? Animal shelters are not the answer to reducing pet overpopulation or to improving the lives of stray cats and dogs. Many countries with a serious overpopulation problem do not have any type of organized animal support system. They may have an animal control program, which results in countless deaths of thousands of stray cats and dogs and does not address the underlying problem of overpopulation. Moreover, many of these governments have little funds for animal control and resort to disposing of strays using inhumane methods, including drowning and electrocution. Without adoption, spay/neuter and education programs, animal shelters do not provide a real solution to the overpopulation problem. You have a facility in Cancun. Isn’t that a shelter? No, not at all. The facility in Cancun is CANDi’s first spay/neuter clinic. One of CANDi’s top priorities is to establish permanent spay/neuter clinics in key tourist destinations around the globe. The clinics will also be used as a rescue and adoption centre. In Cancun, there are over a million people and yet CANDi’s facility is the only organization offering free spay/neuter services and rescuing strays. But the clinic is currently operating on rented property. In order to establish a permanent spay/neuter clinic CANDi needs the funds to purchase the land and building. To learn more, please go to the Project Cancun page on our website. What do I do if I find a stray dog or cat that needs help? There are several things you can do. Visit our Get Involved - As a Tourist page for details. How much work do I have to do to adopt a dog? After all, I am here on vacation.
Not a lot. Once you have selected the dog you want to adopt, CANDi will help take care of the rest. A CANDi representative will meet you at the airport before your departure, provide you with the papers you require, and help you and your dog check in. It is that simple. REMEMBER – THE AIRLINE WILL LIKELY CHARGE A FEE TO TRANSPORT YOUR PET. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE TO LEARN MORE. I found a dog on your website that I want to adopt and I am flying to Cancun soon for a vacation. Should I make arrangements to transport the dog before I leave home?
Yes, it is much easier to make arrangements to transport your dog from home. But first, contact your airline to see if they transport animals. If they do, register your dog for the flight home. Then contact CANDi and we will help you with the rest. If your airline does not transport animals, contact CANDi and we will help to make alternate arrangements. How much does it cost to adopt a dog? There is an adoption fee which helps cover the cost of vaccinations (approximately $50 USD). All the dogs at the facility are vaccinated and in good condition for transport. Most adult dogs at the facility have already been spayed/neutered. Puppies may or may not be spayed/neutered, depending on their age. Some other costs to consider include: - Purchase of a crate or a carry-on piece (some airlines allow puppies to be carried in the cabin with you)
- Airline fee for transporting your dog from Cancun to your North American destination
- A customs fee if you are flying into Canada
REMEMBER – CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE FOR ALL THE DETAILS AS COSTS CAN VARY FROM AIRLINE TO AIRLINE AND FEES CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME. How long does a dog need to be in quarantine before I can bring him/her into Canada or the US? There is no quarantine period for dogs coming into Canada or the US (for any other destination please check with your airline). All that is required is that the dog is vaccinated within 10 days of the travel date. CANDi will provide you with a health certificate, a rabies certificate and proof of vaccinations. Do airlines have restrictions about flying with pets? The first and most important thing to do is to find out if your airline transports animals. Most charter flights do not; however, most major airlines do. Often, but not always, there are temperature restrictions, but these are usually not an issue unless you are flying in the hot months of July and August, and in the cold months of January and February. What do I need to know about the crate?
The crate has to be big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in. Some airlines are more stringent than others, but it is best to be prepared. If we have crates available at our facility we are happy to offer one for a donation. But our supplies are limited and not always in optimal condition. It is best to purchase your own crate at a store in the vicinity of the airport, such as Costco. You can then use the crate when you get home to help with the training of your new dog. REMEMBER – IF YOU GET A LARGER CRATE, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE HOME TWO DOGS WITH NO ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION FEE! CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE. What should I expect when I land at home?
Your dog will be brought to the special cargo section of the baggage claim area. Simply go through customs and show them the papers provided to you by CANDi. They may ask a few extra questions but it usually goes very smoothly. REMEMBER – IF YOU ARE FLYING INTO CANADA THERE WILL BE A CUSTOMS FEE. THERE IS NO SUCH FEE FOR FLYING INTO THE U.S. Why is CANDi only adopting dogs out of Cancun?
CANDi established its programs first in Cancun, largely because Cancun and the Mayan Riviera is a significant tourist destination and the region has many stray cats and dogs. As CANDi builds its programs, we will expand our reach to other key tourist destinations and begin adopting dogs from those regions as well. Why does CANDi only adopt out dogs and not cats?
Traveling is very stressful for cats and they are more susceptible to stress-induced illnesses than dogs. The best alternative solution that CANDi can offer to help stray cats is our Cat Café program. To learn more about the program, please go to the Cat Café page on our website. Doesn’t Mexico have laws to protect animals? Yes, but they are not enforced. Animal abuse and neglect is often ignored. With so many unwanted stray animals, why don’t people in Mexico spay and neuter their pets? People all over the world love their pets and want to provide and care for them. Many people cannot afford all the costs associated with doing so. The cost of spaying a dog is anywhere from $100 – $350 USD. For many working people in Mexico this equals a week’s salary. Another significant contributing factor is the lack of awareness of the need to spay/neuter cats and dogs. It is vital to educate the children about how to properly care for their pets to ensure a long term solution to the stray cat and dog overpopulation problem. Is CANDi getting help from the local governments? Not at the present time. Most local governments barely have the funds to operate their own animal control facilities, never mind diverting funds to a non-profit for stray cats and dogs. CANDi aims to work with local governments in other ways to collaboratively help stray cats and dogs. Are tourists saying anything? Tourists are complaining to local tourist boards and governments; however, no action to create real change is resulting. Many tourists choose never to return to certain destinations because the sight of hungry and suffering stray cats and dogs is more than they can bear. CANDi will also work with local tourist boards and get them involved with helping stray cats and dogs. Why adopt a dog from another country when there are so many dogs in North America who need homes? All dogs, no matter where they live, deserve a loving forever home. Animals do not understand geographic boundaries and we should not limit ourselves to helping only the animals in our own counties. CANDi has heard from many people who wanted to save a stray dog they saw while on vacation but just did not know how. The thought of the lonely, suffering dog becomes a lasting memory of their vacation. CANDi aims to empower tourists with ways to help stray cats and dogs, including being able to take home the helpless dog that literally walked in to their vacation. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, please email Darci at
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