US withdraws planned rule on dogs crossing border from rabies-free countries

OTTAWA — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped plans to require dog owners crossing the border into Canada to fill out cumbersome paperwork this summer, the agency said Monday.

In May, the CDC introduced new regulations aimed at preventing dog rabies from entering the country.

The rules stipulated that dogs must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and carry two forms, one signed by a veterinarian. The forms were to include photos of the dog’s teeth and were to be verified upon arrival by border agents.

The changes, which were due to come into effect on August 1, have been criticised by veterinary associations, the tourism industry and the Canadian federal government.

Officials say they sought an exemption from the regulations because of Canada’s status as a rabies-free country.

Last week, Health Secretary Mark Holland said he had obtained a partial waiver of the rules and hoped for a grace period. Monday’s CDC announcement goes further.

“These updates incorporate feedback from the public, industry partners, and various countries on dog import regulations, and clarify and simplify procedures for individuals importing dogs from countries that are rabies-free or have a low risk of contracting rabies,” the CDC said in a statement Monday.

If your dog has been in a low-risk or rabies-free country for the past six months, it can cross the border with an import form that can be completed online on the day of travel.

The change eased concerns among some human rights advocates who had called for an exception for service dogs, but Michelle Barlak said there was still work to be done.

Barlak is a public relations specialist for The Seeing Eye, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that breeds and trains guide dogs and helps train their handlers, including Canadian handlers.

Seeing Eye was one of the advisory organizations in the U.S. that lobbied the CDC for exemptions for service dogs and their handlers.

“Unfortunately, the CDC form for dog importation, which is still required in all cases, is not accessible for people using screen readers to access the site,” she said in an email Monday. The original CDC form was also not accessible for people using screen readers.

Barlak also noted that people from countries with a high risk of rabies will have to meet the original requirements on Aug. 1.

The CDC’s list of countries with a high risk of rabies includes popular vacation destinations such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Without exception, any service dog handler who has traveled to one of these countries in the last six months would be required to complete longer CDC forms and obtain a note from a veterinarian before traveling to the United States, even if they live in Canada or another rabies-free country.

In an interview Thursday before the changes were announced, Seeing Eye’s Melissa Allman expressed disappointment that the CDC had failed to respond to concerns about the impact the changes would have on service dog handlers.

“I believe this is an erosion of our rights that we have worked so hard to create, maintain and protect since our founding in 1929,” said Allman, who is a guide dog handler and the organization’s advocacy and government relations specialist.

“I find myself in a situation where I’m supposed to be defending people’s rights, and I feel like I have to tell them, ‘We’re sorry, but things aren’t as good as they used to be.'”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2024.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press