Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Explains CDC’s New Rules for Pet Travel to the U.S.

LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – For those planning to travel with their pets this upcoming season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has implemented new requirements that could impact your plans.

In an effort to streamline travel and prevent the spread of rabies, new rules will be put in place for pet owners who want to bring their dogs into the United States. The new process requires owners to fill out paperwork to show their pets are microchipped and vaccinated, according to Rick Pauza, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“If you bring a dog or any animal into the United States, you report it first and foremost to a CBP officer. They’ll send you to the second level to review all the information,” Pauza said.

Requirements will change depending on whether your dog has visited a country with a high risk of rabies in the last 6 months.

“Mexico is already a low-risk rabies country, so the rules are a little more lenient compared to high-risk countries. But overall, we just want to warn the public that these requirements are coming into effect,” Pauza added.

If the dog has not been to a high-risk country for rabies, it must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and have completed the required documentation, such as the CDC Dog Import Form. For pets coming from a high-risk area for rabies, it must have already been vaccinated against the viral disease and have documentation to prove it. The owner must also provide a receipt from the CDC Dog Import Form. The dog must also be microchipped before receiving rabies vaccines.

The new rules will go into effect Aug. 1. Cynthia Gutierrez, shelter manager at Laredo Animal Protective Society, says the rules won’t be significantly stricter than they were before.

“Sometimes they’ve asked, sometimes they haven’t, so now they’re just being a little more rigorous about checking your pet’s information to make sure all the dogs are fully vaccinated,” Gutierrez said. Overall, Gutierrez sees this as a positive step because it will keep the dogs healthy.

To access forms needed for travel or if you have any questions, visit www.cdc.gov/dogtravel.

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