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TheConversationCanada
Changes to U.S. dog import regulations: What they are and why they matter for dogs and for people
By Become an author,
2024-07-31
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is implementing new border rules for dogs entering the United States as of Aug. 1. However, the new rules going into effect are not as onerous as the ones originally planned.
The previously proposed rules required that dogs travelling to the U.S. from Canada be accompanied by an onerous CDC Dog Import Form validated by a veterinarian before each visit into the United States. This was in addition to requirements that the dog:
be at least six months old
have an ISO-compatible microchip
appear healthy upon arrival
The requirement for veterinary confirmation sparked significant controversy, especially among American and Canadian politicians and pet owners who claimed it would place a disproportionate burden on travellers and border patrol services.
Prior to Aug. 1, the CDC only required that dogs appear healthy, and that you “provide a written or verbal statement your dog has NOT been in a high-risk country for rabies within the past 6 months or since birth if under 6 months of age.”
Impact on pet owners and care providers
The back-and-forth over these changes highlights the importance of considering the broad impacts of such regulations on the well-being of pets and people. As researchers who work at the interface of human, animal and environmental health (called One Health), we are concerned about reactive policies that do not consider the broad impacts of such programs, and hope the revised rules will be maintained.
For many, pets are family members offering comfort, especially during tough times. Policies restricting travel or access to veterinary care undermine and devalue these crucial bonds.
Such rules must also consider impacts on people with disabilities who rely on service animals. These individuals depend on service dogs for daily assistance and independence. Barriers to travel or re-entry into the U.S. can disrupt this critical support.
Moreover, some pets have medical conditions that prevent them from receiving vaccinations, complicating their entry into the country if they are not vaccinated. One of the authors of this story has a dog that is a good example of this: Kiffer’s dog Oliver was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer affecting his immune system.
Oliver has not received an up-to-date rabies vaccine due to his condition, as his oncologist warned that vaccination may stimulate cancer. The American Veterinary Medical Association acknowledges that vaccination should be waived for some animals with such medical conditions.
In this way, regulations imposed to reduce health risks can in turn exacerbate health harms for pets.
Erosion of public trust in health policies
While controlling rabies is crucial, how do we weigh the costs and benefits? Canada has been free of canine rabies for decades. Therefore dogs from rabies-free countries such as Canada pose an extremely low risk to public health, while the impact of these regulations can have widespread and multifaceted impacts on the well-being of pets and the people who care for them.
The consequences of these policies extend beyond their undue administrative burden. By imposing stringent requirements that are disproportionate to the actual risk, regulations can foster a perception that public health authorities are disconnected from the needs and concerns of the public. This perception can erode trust, making it more difficult to implement and enforce other essential public health measures.
When addressing health risks at the human-animal interface, we need holistic measures that identify and address the interconnected and downstream impacts of regulations on health — beyond disease. The recent decision to walk back the implementation of more stringent dog travel rules between Canada and the U.S. is a good step in this direction. Future changes to these regulations should ensure they are minimally burdensome and offer real public health benefit.
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