Starting July 14, 2021, the United States will restrict the import of dogs from more than 100 countries with reported cases of rabies. Dogs from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and a number of other countries will be banned.
Previously, proof of rabies vaccination was sufficient to import animals from these countries. Now, in order to import dogs, you will need to first obtain written permission from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The request for such permission must be submitted no later than 6 weeks before the intended date of entry into the country. American media call the new restrictions on the import of dogs a “ban.”
The CDC itself attributes the restrictions to a sharp increase in the number of puppies that have recently been denied entry due to the fact that they have not yet reached the age when the rabies vaccine is effective. The United States prohibits the import of puppies under 4 months of age because rabies vaccinations are not fully effective at this age. According to Emily Pieracci, a CDC rabies expert, the most common refusals were caused by false documents stating that the dog was older than 4 months.
Due to an increase in the number of refusals, dogs had to wait longer to be returned to their homeland. During this wait, the animal is forced to remain in quarantine, and some dogs get sick and die. Most of the refusals are related to the import of dogs from only three countries — Russia, Ukraine and Colombia. But the CDC decided to ban the import of dogs from all countries where the risk of rabies is high — these are more than 100 countries of the world. Mexico is not among the countries where rabies is common.
You can view the list of countries from which the import of dogs into the USA is restricted bylink. In addition, the import of animals that are imported from third countries, but were in «prohibited» powers over the past 6 months.
About 1 million dogs are imported into the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The ban is expected to affect 4-7.5% of such animals. The ban does not include traveling to the United States with a guide dog for the blind or visitors moving to the United States for temporary or permanent residence with their pets.
The CDC on its website provides an overview of changes in legislation regarding the importation of dogs into the United States.
Was:
- Anyone has the right to bring a dog into the United States.
- Required documentation: vaccination certificate.
- Minimum dog age: 4 months.
- Dog limit: no.
- Import for sale or adaptation: permitted.
- Serological testing upon entry: not required.
- Checkpoints: any.
Became:
- Holders of a special CDC permit have the right to import a dog into the United States, as well as disabled people with guide dogs, foreign citizens moving to the United States to live, government employees, and in addition those who are taking an animal to an exhibition.
- Required papers: vaccination certificate + CDC authorization.
- Minimum dog age: 6 months.
- Dog limit: 3 dogs per trip.
- Import for sale or adaptation: not permitted.
- Serological testing upon entry: required if rabies vaccination was not received in the United States.
- Checkpoints: from the approved list.
Rabies is considered a fatal disease for animals and humans and is caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Rabies is most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. There is no cure for it, but it can be prevented with the support of vaccination.
The type of rabies usually carried by dogs was eliminated in the United States in the 1970s. But in 1988, a new type of canine rabies was imported from Mexico. It spread to wild coyotes and took 19 years to eradicate. Since then, the United States has been very strict in controlling the import of dogs from countries where cases of rabies have been reported.
During the coronavirus epidemic, the demand for dogs in the United States has increased significantly — Americans have turned to furry friends to ease loneliness during quarantine. However, some dog rabies vaccination programs have had to be suspended or cancelled, increasing the risk of infection from imported animals.
How to now purchase a permit to import a dog into the USA, we described in thispublications