- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new set of rules related to bringing dogs into the United States in an effort to prevent the spread of rabies.
- These rules were last updated in 1956.
- If the dog has traveled to certain countries where rabies is endemic, other restrictions apply.
If you are bringing a dog into the United States, whether you are returning from an overseas trip with your Rover, visiting the United States, or adopting a dog from abroad, you must follow a new set of rules designed to help prevent the spread of rabies.
Officials say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last updated these rules in 1956, and far fewer dogs are coming to the United States from other countries. About 1 million dogs now enter the United States each year.
There are additional restrictions if the dog has traveled to many countries where rabies is common. You can find a list of these countries on the CDC website.
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On December 21, 2022, a passenger pulled his dog in a wheeled transport vehicle at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. New rules for dogs entering the U.S. designed to help prevent the spread of rabies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File)
The new regulations will take effect on August 1.
Here’s information about the rules:
- Dogs must be healthy and at least 6 months old when they arrive in the United States
- Dogs must have a microchip implanted under their skin that contains identifying information.
- A CDC import form must be filled out in advance and a photo of the dog must be attached.
- Proof of rabies vaccination is only required if the dog has traveled to a high-risk country within the past six months.
- For dogs to be vaccinated in the United States, a certificate recognized by the Department of Agriculture is required.
- For dogs vaccinated outside the United States, proof of vaccination and blood testing are required, and the animal must be examined at a CDC-registered facility upon arrival in the United States
