U.S. loosens strict rules for dogs from Canada crossing border

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The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has walked back on complicated rules it planned to implement next week surrounding bringing dogs across the United States border.

The update, announced Monday, means dogs coming from rabies-free or low-risk countries specifically will not require documents filled in by veterinarians as originally planned.

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The earlier version of the rules, set to take effect on Aug. 1, would have required, among other things, that all owners provide a government-issued rabies and microchip certification form filled out by a veterinarian. The form would have been valid for varying periods of time depending on if and where the dog was vaccinated against rabies — in some cases, it would only have been valid for 30 days and for a single entry into the U.S.

The planned change was met with backlash from citizens, veterinarians and the tourism industry in Canada — a country that is not high risk for dog rabies.

In a statement on its webpage on Monday, the CDC said it “values the feedback received from various countries, industry partners, and the public” about the rules.

Now, as of Aug. 1, requirements for owners of dogs from Canada will be to fill out a CDC dog import form and ensure the dog appears healthy upon arrival, is at least six months old and has a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner.

The receipt produced by filling out the form will be valid for six months and can be used for multiple entries, unless the dog visits a country that is considered high-risk for dog rabies over that period (a list of high-risk countries for dog rabies can be found online. It includes more than 100 countries.)

Anyone who brings a dog into the U.S. is required to fill out the form. Each dog must have its own form. They can be filled out on the day of travel, but the CDC recommends filling it in a few days or up to six months before travel “just to be prepared.”

The receipt can be printed or shown on a phone to a U.S. customs official.

Those who plan to cross the border with a dog from a high-risk country will be subject to stricter entry requirements as planned, including providing a U.S.-issued rabies vaccination form or a health certificate filled out by a veterinarian.

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