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.
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.
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.
- Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form
- 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.
