New US Border Rules for Dogs Start Aug. 1 as Canada Seeks Exemption

A service dog strolls through the aisle inside a United Airlines plane at Newark Liberty International Airport while taking part in a training exercise in Newark, N.J., on April 1, 2017. Julio Cortez/File Photo via AP

Health Minister Mark Holland says he is attempting to persuade U.S. officials that Canadian canines should be allowed to cross the border without restrictions, after being “blindsided” by the new rules set to take effect Aug. 1.

In a bid to keep the U.S. rabies-free, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is implementing the new set of rules applying to all dogs arriving in the country.

Beginning Aug. 1, all dogs entering the U.S. must be at least six months old and meet rabies vaccination requirements, Mr. Holland said, adding that the change “surprised and blindsided” the Canadian government.

The rules will affect Canadians travelling stateside, but Americans travelling to Canada with their pets will also have to adhere to the new rules when they head home.

“I am quite concerned, if I’m honest, about the regulations,” Mr. Holland said during a July 17 press conference in Ottawa. He said the rules don’t “make sense” because Canada isn’t a source country for canine rabies.

Like the U.S., Canada has no incidents of canine rabies, which the health minister said helped Ottawa secure a few rule changes for Canadian dog owners.

The rules mandating a specific microchip for dogs have been eased, permitting the acceptance of any kind of microchip. The requirement that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) verify vaccine certificates for dogs has also been removed.

Mr. Holland argues the changes don’t go far enough, but said he’s hopeful the government can still get an exemption granted for Canada. Ottawa is pushing the CDC to introduce a Canada-specific form to permit dogs to enter and re-enter the U.S. as long as they have a valid rabies vaccination.

In the meantime, there have been some “very positive indications” that Canada will be able to secure “a grace period” for pet owners travelling across the border, he said.

When asked by reporters if Canada plans to implement similar rules if the U.S. doesn’t ease restrictions, Mr. Holland said all of his energies are currently focused on getting the exemption.

New Rules

The new regulations are part of the CDC’s 2024 revamp of its dog and cat importation regulations in a bid to prevent the reintroduction of rabies in the United States.

“The updated regulation will help keep Americans and their pets safe,” the website says. “It addresses recent challenges seen with international dog importations, including the challenges posed by fraudulent documentation.”

The new requirements to bring a dog into the United States depend on where the dog has been in the six months prior to arriving in the country and where the dog received its rabies vaccination, according to the website.

All dogs must also be at least six months old, appear healthy upon arrival, and be microchipped.

If a dog is determined to be eligible for entry, owners must complete a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Owners will also need documentation of rabies vaccination using the form that best applies to their pet. Separate forms are required for each animal and are only valid for 30 days. They are:

• Documentation of Canadian-Issued Rabies Vaccination
• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form
• Valid USDA export certificate
• Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free or Low-Risk Country form
• Valid USDA export certificate
• A “foreign export certificate” that shows the dog is from a rabies-free or low-risk country, is at least six months old, has an ISO microchip, and has been certified by a veterinarian and includes medical records.

The U.S. eliminated dog rabies in 2007, but the usually fatal disease is not controlled in more than 100 countries.