In an effort to curb the transmission of rabies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is implementing new regulations for dogs arriving in the United States from abroad. Beginning Aug. 1, all incoming dogs must be at least six months old and have a microchip. The announcement came from the CDC on Wednesday, May 1.
Additionally, dogs from countries where rabies is common must be vaccinated against the disease. These measures will replace a temporary order from 2021. The order stopped the entrance of canines from more than 100 nations where rabies is still common.
The choice of six months as a minimum age requirement aligns with the age at which dogs can receive their first rabies vaccination. Microchipping serves as a way that officials can verify the rabies vaccination status of dogs. Microchips can also confirm that owners completed the CDC import form.
These updated regulations mark the first significant change to CDC dog entrance policies since 1956. The change comes amidst a rise in international pet travel and an increasing number of rescue organizations and breeders operating outside U.S. borders. However, widespread vaccination efforts in the 1970s eradicated the strain of rabies typically associated with dogs in the U.S.
Since 2015, there have only been four incidents of rabies-infected dogs entering the country. CDC officials blamed an uptick on incomplete or fake rabies vaccination certificates.
The CDC cautions that, depending on a dog’s history of travel, a blood test might be required to confirm immunity to rabies. Fake vaccination records have become more common amongst owners of young dogs under six months old.
However, the CDC’s move has faced criticism. Animal welfare advocate Jennifer Skiff, speaking to The Associated Press, presented the challenges faced by diplomats and military personnel in meeting these requirements, sometimes forcing them to leave their dogs behind. She called the new regulations unwarranted and excessively costly.
