Can my dog stay in Mexico without me if I bring her in on a 180 day Tourist Permit ?

My wife and I wish to drive into Mexico from the US soon on a 180 day Tourist Permit and bring in our 10 year old dog. We have visited the Lake Chapala area only briefly twice before, staying in hotels and enjoying the lakeside community. This time we plan to stay for at least 2 or 3 months while living in a rental house to test drive what it is really like for us to actually live there. We are hoping to then apply for a Permanent Visa after enjoying a highly satisfying test drive experience. My wife and I will have to return to the US and apply for the PV at the Mexican consulate in Florida.

My question is: Can I leave my dog with friends or in a kennel in Mexico for a week or 2 while we exit the country thereby ending our Tourist Permit to go home and apply for the PV?? Or will my dog's presence in Mexico be linked to my Tourist Permit and necessitate her traveling back to the US when we do??

Lady and Bob,

Thank you for this information!

We sure don't want her to travel back and forth unnecessarily at her age. It is good to know she can relax lakeside while we travel back to the US temporarily.