This is really good news – albeit a bit frustrating that we spent so much time working on the issue over the last couple of months, only to have the US CDC largely walk back most of what they announced with regard to movement of dogs from low-risk countries for dog rabies back in May, and specifically dogs from Canada just last week.

The US CDC has once again revised the rules for importation of dogs into the US from dog-rabies free or low risk countries (including Canada) that will come into effect on August 1, 2024. This applies to dogs that have not visited any high-risk countries for at least 6 months prior to travelling to the US.

It’s quite simple, logical and straightforward now:

• The dog owner (or whoever is accompanying the dog) must complete the new online CDC Dog Import Form for each dog. The form no longer requires a photo for such a dog, and is valid for up to 6 months, as long as the dog does not visit any high-risk countries. There is no fee or waiting period associated with completing this form (free). A separate form must be completed for each dog.
• The dog must appear healthy upon arrival (this is not new).
• The dog must be at least 6 months old at time of entry to the US.
• The dog must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.

Notably, there is no longer any requirement for proof of rabies vaccination for dogs travelling from low-risk countries, but remember that proof of current rabies vaccination is still required for dogs returning to Canada from the US.

There is no apparent mechanism for verifying that the dog has not visited any high-risk countries for at least 6 months prior to travelling to the US, beyond the owner attestation on the CDC Dog Import Form. Dogs still have to be at least 6 months old, which will still be a potential issue for breeders and for cross-border veterinary care, but these changes remove most of the major challenges and hassles with which we’ve been grappling since the CDC’s original announcement in May.