In May, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new rules for those bringing dogs into the USA that will go into effect August 1.
According to the CDC, the upcoming rules will require all dogs entering the USA to be at least six months old, be microchipped with a code to verify rabies vaccination, and have a CDC import form filled out by the animal’s owner. The dog may also be subject to CDC lab blood testing depending on where the dog has been for the previous six months.
The reason behind the new rules requiring the dog to be at least six months old is to give all vaccinations enough time to take effect before the animal enters the US.
It should be noted that these requirements will be in place both for dogs entering the US for the first time, and for dogs originating in the United States and reentering the country after a trip abroad.
The new CDC travel rules for dogs mark the first major change to canine import regulations since 1956. The agency recognizes that international travel has increased exponentially over the past 70 years, meaning a refresh of the rules was warranted in order to continue controlling the spread of rabies. Rabies was once common in dogs but has been largely eliminated over the past 50 years through the use of vaccines. These new rules aim to keep rabid dogs from entering the United States.
If you plan on entering the US or have family entering the US with a dog after August 1, be sure you understand and abide by these new rules. If you don’t, you could be forced to leave your beloved pet behind. Don’t forget to also purchase visitors medical insurance before your US trip.