STRICT NEW RULES TAKE EFFECT AUG. 1 FOR BRINGING YOUR DOG ACROSS THE U.S. BORDER

Beginning this summer, you’ll need vet-approved documentation to prove your dog has been vaccinated against rabies. Here’s what to know.

If you frequently bring your dog into the U.S., prepare for a notably more complex process.

Commencing on August 1, 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will implement new regulations for international border crossings with canines.

Among the foremost and possibly most burdensome new mandate is the necessity to submit documentation to the CDC several days prior to a scheduled trip, verifying your dog’s health, possession of a valid microchip — further details to follow — and, paramountly, vaccination against the lethal rabies virus.

This means a spontaneous road trip to the U.S. with your pet will be basically out of the question.

Is my dog eligible to cross into the U.S.?

Starting on Aug. 1, your dog must be at least six months old to travel to the U.S.

Since the tougher measures are primarily aimed at keeping the U.S. free of rabies, there is also a requirement that your dog not have been in one of over 100 countries in the previous six months where rabies is not under control.

There are several other variables, so the CDC has an app called DogBot to help navigate the upcoming rules that includes a list of those countries.

What is changing on Aug. 1?

As previously noted, the most significant alteration entails the U.S. mandate for recently completed paperwork for your pet, to be submitted to the CDC between a few and 10 days prior to the journey.

Historically, the guidance for traveling with your dog across the border emphasized ensuring your dog’s vaccination status. Typically, this involved a straightforward inquiry from a border official and, possibly, a request to review Fido’s vaccination documentation.

However, this protocol will change post-July. Beginning in August, scheduling an appointment with a veterinarian to have them complete the new form will be necessary.

Mark Belanger, a senior lawyer and principal of Border Solutions Law in Vancouver, says that’s going to be a huge “headache” for travellers who often take their dogs with them.

“This will impact a lot of people,” Belanger comments, emphasizing that his firm specializes in border and immigration matters.

The recent announcement of the new regulations caught Belanger off guard, as they are new to him as well. However, he asserts that the change effectively regards your dog as “chattel” in a legal sense, more as a possession than a family member.

“The primary inconvenience lies in the requirement for the form to be completed by a vet, along with the microchip,” Belanger elaborates.

Regarding the microchip, Belanger highlights the necessity for it to be compatible with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However, he admits uncertainty about whether the chips most vets implant in pets are ISO-compatible.

“I’m not familiar with that,” Belanger chuckles, noting the absence of a comprehensive explanation on the CDC website regarding how to verify compatibility. The guidance simply advises individuals to “consult with the microchip company or the dog’s veterinarian” for clarification.

Furthermore, Belanger mentions that the form must include a photo of the dog taken within the past 10 days, though the method of enforcement remains unclear.

Pups younger than six months, which are too young to be rabies vaccinated, used to be eligible for travel into the U.S. with a vet’s bill of good health. That’s no longer the case.

How long is the vet form valid for?

The CDC specifies that the form endorsed by a Canadian veterinarian will remain valid for 30 days and permits a single entry into the U.S. However, the extent to which this one-time entry regulation will be strictly enforced remains uncertain, according to Belanger.

Nonetheless, Belanger indicates that he will advise clients who frequently travel to renew the form every 30 days as a precautionary measure. Yet, this process is evidently time-consuming and costly.

“I can’t say for certain how much it will cost, but I anticipate the veterinarian will charge a few hundred dollars for these forms,” he remarks. “Moreover, it’s time-consuming and detracts from other tasks vets could be undertaking.”

Considering these factors, Belanger suggests that some pet owners may conclude that frequent travel with a dog is “not worth the hassle.”

“Due to these new regulations, individuals who frequently travel with their pets must weigh the decision carefully,” he explains. “It introduces a level of consideration that wasn’t previously part of the equation.”

He predicts the new requirements — especially in the busy travel days of August right after the change takes effect — are liable to “catch people off-guard. I can see people missing a vacation or a wedding over this.”

Why are the changes coming?

The CDC says all this is about keeping the U.S. free of rabies, which it describes as “over 99 per cent fatal and … 100 per cent preventable.” It says the changes are due to recent concerns over rabies outbreaks abroad and fraudulent documentation.

While Canada is considered a country that’s either rabies-free or low-risk, there are over 100 others considered a significant threat, and there are even stricter rules around bringing in pets from them. So if your dog has been in one of those in the past six months, the paperwork just got longer and the dog may ultimately not be allowed in at all.

There are also major implications for rescue organizations, breeders, show dogs and dogs imported from outside Canada.

And should you mess up, there’s a very real chance your pet won’t be allowed in, and that too could be costly.

“If you don’t follow CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States,” warns the CDC. “If denied entry, your dog will be sent back to the last country of departure at your expense. Country of departure is where the last trip originated — not where the dog was born or where it lives.”

For more on what to expect and how to prepare for the changes, go to cdc.gov/importation.

Are the rules similar coming into Canada?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says it is reviewing the new U.S. regulations, which the CDC says are part of an effort to streamline and standardize the importation process between countries.

While Canada does not require advance notice, travellers coming into the country with an animal must follow similar rules, including documentation of recent rabies vaccination.

The CFIA website has a step-by-step process similar to the U.S. DogBot that you can use to determine what you need to do coming into Canada with your furry friends.