Canada currently has no active cases of dog rabies, which is caused by a different variant of the virus than the one that circulates in wildlife such as raccoons and foxes, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in announcing the policy in June.
The CFIA said dog rabies kills 59,000 people every year in the countries affected by the ban, including Afghanistan, Ukraine and mainland China.
“We always knew that the risk was there,” Kwantes said. “But when it’s actually in your country, that theoretical risk becomes a real and present danger.”
Kwantes said these cases are illustrative of the danger posed by even a single case of canine rabies making its way into the country.
Rabies is a slow disease, and depending on where the bite is, it may take months for symptoms to be detected, said Kwantes. That means if a dog was bitten and exposed to rabies before it was vaccinated, the virus could be “hidden” for months in its nervous system, he said.
Many of the banned countries don’t have robust veterinary systems, said Kwantes, raising concerns about fraudulent vaccine certificates or inadequate inoculation.
While the CFIA’s stance may seem severe, Kwantes said he believes it’s warranted given the risks that canine rabies and other contagions that are endemic to other countries pose to Canada’s human and dog populations.
“Even though it’s a very difficult step, I do not think it’s an unreasonable one,” he said.
But Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice Canada, said the CFIA should have explored less stringent measures before imposing an all-out ban.
“They’ve gone from zero to 100 very quickly,” said Labchuk.
Labchuk said Canada should have considered making similar exceptions as part of its policy, suggesting protocols such as additional vaccine verification, antibody tests and mandatory quarantines.
“Canada has really been a lifeline for dog rescue agencies operating internationally,” said Labchuk. “The dog rescue organizations that we work very closely with are devastated.”
A number of dog rescues from across Canada have spoken out against the ban, with some even pledging to bring in as many animals as possible before it takes effect Wednesday.
Susan Patterson, founder of Thank Dog I Am Out Rescue Society in Vancouver, said the frenzy is emblematic of some of the issues surrounding the “rescue” of international animals.
“There’s a huge passion to bring in as many animals as you can,” said Patterson, whose group was part of an effort to bring hundreds of animals from Afghanistan to Canada.
“But it doesn’t end when the dog’s feet land on Canadian soil. There’s a lot to do once they arrive.”