CDC introduces new rules for dogs entering the US – Deseret News

Starting August 1, dogs brought into the United States must comply with new regulations or be turned away.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its regulations on dog imports — a move the public health agency says is necessary to “protect the health and safety of people and animals” by ensuring that every dog ​​brought into the country admitted is healthy and will not pose any kind of risk. This is an update of the 1956 rules.

According to the new regulations, dogs must:

• Look healthy.
• be 6 months or older.
• Get a microchip.
• Be accompanied by someone who has a receipt for a form previously submitted online, called a CDC Dog Import Form.

Every dog ​​entering the US must meet these requirements. According to a CDC news release, different rules may also apply depending on where the dog has been recently and whether it has been vaccinated in the US.

NPR reported that the US imports as many as 1 million dogs per year. “In 2021, amid a surge in pandemic-inspired pet adoptions, the CDC suspended imports from 113 countries where rabies remains endemic due to an increase in fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates.” The countries from which a dog has since been banned from entering the US include Brazil, China, Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Syria, Uganda and Vietnam.”

One of the main problems is the chance that a dog has rabies.

“The variant of rabies virus transmitted by dogs (rabies) was eliminated in the United States in 2007 and CDC wants to prevent the reintroduction of rabies into the United States. This regulation builds on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, when a temporary suspension was imposed on the import of dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies. This suspension will expire when the updated regulations become effective on August 1, 2024,” the CDC announcement said. “The regulation is also more closely aligned with World Organization for Animal Health standards for the international movement of dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies. Additionally, it addresses recent issues arising from the international importation of dogs, such as fraudulent documentation and dogs being housed in unsafe conditions if they do not meet requirements for entry into the United States.”

The CDC has a “DogBot” to help dog owners traveling with their dogs figure out which rules apply based on travel dates, locations and where the creature was vaccinated. People are urged to ensure their dogs meet the requirements to enter the country before trying.

The president of the American Veterinary Medical Association told NPR he was pleased with the changes, which “will help protect public health and positively impact the health and well-being of dogs.”