New rules for bringing dogs into the United States will be rolled out from August.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the regulations apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the US and are returning.
The CDC will require all dogs entering the US to appear healthy upon arrival, be at least six months of age and be microchipped. Owners must also ensure they complete the CDC’s ‘dog import’ form and bring an online submission receipt with them.
Proof of rabies vaccination may also be required based on where the dog has been in the last six months and whether the dog was vaccinated in the United States or elsewhere.
Port Director Donovan Delude said the changes were necessary to “protect the health and safety of people and their pets.”
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“The rabies variant carried by dogs was eliminated in the US in 2007 and we’re working diligently in concert with the Center for Disease Control to prevent its reintroduction,” he said.
The CDC said the new rules also address “recent challenges seen with international dog importations, including the challenges posed by fraudulent documentation.”
“Standardization of the dog importation process…will streamline the importation process and allow for safer and more efficient entry of dogs into the United States,” the agency said.
“If you don’t follow CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States.
“If denied entry, your dog will be sent back to the last country of departure at your expense. Country of departure is where the last trip originated, not where the dog was born or where it lives.”
US Customs and Border Protection said dog rabies is not controlled in over 100 countries, which is why there is an “inherent risk” in imported dogs.
According to the CDC, each dog imported with rabies could infect people and other animals, costing more than half a million dollars to contain.
Rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans around the world. Around 59,000 people die from rabies every year around the world.
