The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is revising its regulations for importing dogs to safeguard the well-being of people and animals. Effective August 1, 2024, all dogs entering the US must meet the following requirements:
- Demonstrate good health upon entry.
- Be at least six months old.
- Have a microchip.
- Come with a CDC Dog Import Form receipt from online submission.
Further conditions depend on the dog’s travel history in the past six months, and its vaccination status in the U.S. Dogs from countries with high risk of rabies are required to be vaccinated against the virus.
The CDC reports canine rabies has been eliminated in the country since 2017, and these new set of rules will help prevent its reintroduction. Additionally, it tackles recent issues in international dog imports, including fake documents and dogs kept in unsafe conditions when failing U.S. entry criteria.
For more information, visit the CDC website.