Dogs entering the US from other countries must now be at least six months old and microchipped to prevent the spread of rabies, according to new government regulations published on Wednesday. These rules also mandate vaccination for dogs coming from rabies-prone areas. The regulations apply to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups, as well as pets accompanying their US owners.
“This new regulation is going to address the current challenges that we’re facing,” said Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who helped draft the updated regulations.
The CDC posted the new rules in the federal register on Wednesday, and they will take effect on August 1, replacing a temporary 2021 order that suspended the entry of dogs from over 100 rabies-affected countries.
Under the new rules, all dogs entering the US must be at least six months old, old enough to be vaccinated if required, have a microchip for rabies verification, and complete a new CDC import form. Additional restrictions and requirements may apply based on the dog's whereabouts in the previous six months, potentially including blood testing from CDC-approved labs.
According to Pieracci, the CDC's regulations, last updated in 1956, needed revision due to changes in pet travel and breeding practices. The US now sees about 1 million dogs enter each year, a significant increase from previous years. While dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the US, the type that typically affects dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s. Nevertheless, rabies remains a fatal disease in animals and humans, primarily spread through bites from infected animals, with no cure once symptoms begin.
Since 2015, four rabid dogs have been identified entering the US, prompting concerns about further transmission. CDC officials have also noted an uptick in incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and an increase in denied entry for puppies not old enough for full vaccination
Public comments on a draft of the updated regulations last year were varied. Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas company aiding in international pet moves, supports the new rules. She noted that families acquiring dogs overseas and bringing them to the US may find compliance challenging but believes the regulations are ultimately beneficial.
“It’s more work for the pet owner, but the end result is a good thing,” said Passman, who also serves as a board member for the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.