YES, YOU (PROBABLY) CAN IMPORT THAT SHOW PROSPECT NOW
by Sheila Goffe
F or a year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suspended, with only a few exceptions, the import of dogs from some 113 countries deemed “high risk for rabies.” For many fanciers this restriction meant an end of plans to special a dog in the US, or to import an exciting new prospect or an important new part of a breeding program. On June 10, 2022 that’s set to change thanks to new CDC rules that will make it easier to import a dog from the previously banned countries. WHAT’S CHANGING? While it is important for importers to also check additional USDA and local entry requirements, here is the latest from the CDC: New rules officially announced by the CDC on June 1 (and effective as of June 10) change the focus from a blanket suspension on imports to a risk-based approach that depends on where the dog’s rabies vaccination was administered and how many dogs are being imported. Under the new CDC rules, dogs that have not been in a high-risk coun- try may continue to enter the US through any port of entry and are not required to present a rabies vaccina- tion certificate. If the puppy is under six months of age, a verbal statement that the pup has not been in a high- risk country is required. For all dogs that have been in a high- risk country in the past six months, the dog must be at least six months old, have a valid rabies vaccination, and have an ISO microchip for iden - tification that matches the rabies cer - tificate. (A list of “high risk” for rabies countries is available at cdc.gov. )
Importers bringing 1-2 dogs into the US that have been in a high-risk coun- try have three options for entry: 1. Permit – Apply for a CDC permit prior to travel and arrange for the dogs to arrive at one of 18 approved airports with the import permit. 2. Titer – Make an advance reserva- tion for a port that has an approved animal care facility: Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA), or Los Angeles (LAX); present a valid foreign rabies vac- cination certificate; present the results of a valid rabies serology titer; and have the dog examined by a USDA-accredited veterinar- ian and re-vaccinated. 3. No Titer – Make an advance res- ervation for a port that has an ap- proved animal care facility: Atlan- ta (ATL), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA), or Los Angeles (LAX); present a valid foreign rabies vacci- nation certificate; have the dog ex- amined by a USDA accredited vet- erinarian and re-vaccinated; and quarantine the dog(s) for 28 days. Individuals importing three or more dogs into the US from a high- risk country do not have the option to obtain a permit, but may enter with an advance reservation and se- lect either Option 2 (with a titer/no quarantine) or Option 3 (no titer/ mandatory quarantine). Under the new rule, commercial dog importers are not eligible for a CDC Dog Import Permit. However, com - mercial dog importers may now im- port dogs from high-risk countries provided that the dogs, upon arrival in the United States, are examined, re-vaccinated, and have proof of an
adequate titer from a CDC-approved laboratory. Alternatively, they may be held in quarantine at a CDC-ap- proved animal facility until they meet CDC entry requirements. Details on the new rules are available on the CDC website at https://www. cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-an- imal-into-the-united-states/. BACKGROUND – SO WHAT’S THE ISSUE BEHIND THE RULES? Rabies is a serious threat to pet and public health. According to the CDC, is it one hundred percent preventable and ninety-nine percent fatal. The American Kennel Club has long been concerned about sick dogs be- ing imported into the United States— whether the issue be the rabies, brucellosis, viral infections, canine influenza, non-native parasites, zoo - notic diseases, or other pathogens that impact canine and public health. Historically, canine disease imported from outside the United States flew under the radar. There were also many fewer dogs being imported. In the last generation, however, breeders in the US have come under increasing restrictions and fallen victim to negative public pressure, even as the demand for pet dogs has increased. By 2019, even before the increase in ownership due to the pan- demic, it was conservatively estimat- ed that US demand for pet dogs is ap- proximately eight million dogs a year. US breeders simply couldn’t meet the demand for pets, particularly in light of anti-breeder laws. In the same year, CDC published es - timated US pet import figures of a whopping one million per year—many
10 • T op N otch T oys , J une 2022
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