The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Monday that it is rolling back recent requirements for bringing dogs into the U.S. from countries not at high risk for dog rabies.
Why It Matters
The CDC’s decision, effective August 1, 2024 comes after significant public pressure from senators, Canadian government officials, and animal advocacy groups. Critics argued that the initial rules would complicate veterinary care for residents of U.S.-Canada border cities and restrict a vital source of companionship for truckers. According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, about 20% of cross-border truckers travel with dogs.
State of Play
Under the revised guidelines, dogs that have resided in rabies-free or low-risk countries for the past six months will only need to appear healthy and have a completed dog import form to enter the U.S. This update marks a shift from the CDC’s previous announcement in May, which required all dogs entering the U.S. from other countries to be at least six months old, microchipped, and have the import form.
You can download the form from the CDC here. Please note this form can be printed out or shown to the boarder patrol agents on your phone's screen.
Although the U.S. eliminated dog rabies in 2007, the virus remains a concern in other parts of the world. Unvaccinated dogs in the U.S. are at risk of contracting rabies from wild animals. In 2021, regulators temporarily halted the import of dogs from 113 countries due to rabies concerns.
The Bottom Line
The CDC states that dogs coming into the U.S. from high-risk countries must have been vaccinated against rabies in the past six months. Unvaccinated dogs from these regions will not be permitted entry into the country.
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