CDC Simplifies Border Crossing Rules with Dogs After Protests

In response to public outcry from dog owners, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is simplifying the rules for bringing dogs into the United States starting August 1.

The updated regulations require all dogs entering from a country with a zero or low risk of rabies, including Canada, to be microchipped, at least 6 months old, and to have a completed Dog Import Form (a free, 5-minute online form). The update also allows for applications for an exemption for the airline industry.

The CDC previously said it would require U.S. dog owners to have an International Standards Organization-approved microchip and a U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved rabies vaccination certificate. Fulfilling those requirements could take weeks and cost hundreds of dollars.

“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.

Dog owners celebrate, but issues surrounding the 6-month-old requirement and general confusion about so many changes remain.

“We pretty much won!” said Deborah Williams of Colden, N.Y., who said the updated rules will allow her to continue to frequently cross the border into Canada with her golden Labrador, Sam.

But Williams is disappointed with how the CDC has handled the new rules overall. “It was a mess. So many people changed their travel plans, which was unnecessary,” she said. “This is not how a preeminent public health organization should be doing business.”

A recent survey of 1,000 U.S. pet owners by Rover, a pet care retailer, found that 35% of dog owners are unsure whether they understand the new regulations regarding dog travel to the United States.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 400,000 people cross the U.S.-Canadian border every day, and 45% of American households have a dog.

“Guidelines have changed several times over the past month, and the situation remains incredibly fluid. Pet owners should be sure to check both the CDC website and their veterinarian for the latest developments,” said Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, veterinary medicine advisor at Rover.

The CDC’s minimum age requirement of 6 months for dogs is also problematic for some. “It still doesn’t make sense to me because most puppies can be vaccinated against rabies at 3 or 4 months of age,” Williams said. “Breeders who sell puppies under 6 months of age overseas are going to lose business.”

Wilma Herrera, 55, who runs the US Dog Coalition and Rescue in North Carolina, agrees: “The CDC update is a step in the right direction, but the 6-month rule needs to be reconsidered.”

Herrera said the original rules would have forced her to stop rescuing dogs, but the update allows her to continue, with a few more challenges. “By getting a microchip and filling out the dog import form, we can handle that,” she said.

The simplified rules come after months of negative publicity for the CDC. In May, the agency announced new rules for dogs entering the United States starting Aug. 1 due to heightened concerns about rabies in dogs. The Aug. 1 rules sparked a mass outcry, with dog owners calling the rules unfair and extreme, and 14 senators signing a bipartisan letter asking the CDC to reconsider its policy.

The American Veterinary Medical Association was one of the few organizations that supported the original CDC rule and continues to support the simplified rules. “The AVMA supports the CDC’s efforts to improve dog import standards to protect animal health, animal welfare, and public health,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the association.

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