CDC amends new rules for dogs entering U.S.

Osprey and Chinook, retired sled dogs, hold successful nan Juneau Animal Rescue parking batch for shots. (Photo by Claire Stremple/KTOO)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention precocious announced immoderate new rules meant to support rabies retired of nan U.S.

Beginning Aug. 1, nan rules will make it much analyzable for dogs to travel into nan country. Among different things, nan agency required each U.S. bound dogs beryllium vaccinated, and travel pinch a shape signed by a vet wrong nan past six months.

After receiving what it described arsenic “valued feedback”, nan agency amended nan rules this week. It now exempts dogs walking from debased consequence countries from immoderate of nan measures. Starting adjacent week, customs will require a one-page canine import form for dogs who person been “only successful canine rabies -free aliases debased consequence countries successful nan 6 months earlier U.S. entry.” Dogs walking from high consequence countries will still beryllium taxable to nan afloat grade of nan caller rules. Luckily for section dogs and their people,  Canada is considered a rabies-free country. So is Mexico.

However, nan caller rules will still present immoderate caller requirements. All dogs crossing into nan U.S. will person to person a microchip ID that tin beryllium detected pinch a cosmopolitan scanner.

The animal will besides person to look healthy, and beryllium astatine slightest six months aged erstwhile crossing into nan U.S. These requirements will forestall group from walking pinch their puppy, and could present uncertainty erstwhile taking a canine to a vet appointment  successful Canada.

CaSandra Nash is nan head of nan Haines Animal Rescue Kennel. She says her statement tin implant microchips. But, pinch astir 25 chips left, she has a constricted stock, and she says nan chips are connected backorder. Nash says nan caller rules could really complicate immoderate situations.

“As acold arsenic emergency situations, needing to get done nan border, astir folks thin to spell to Alpine of All Paws, successful Whitehorse,” Nash said. “And if they are barred (re)entry, nan only different action would beryllium to spell to Juneau, and astir of nan time, getting an assignment successful Juneau aliases flying aliases ferrying is very restricted, truthful it would constrictive down nan options for folks successful municipality drastically.”

A customs worker who was not allowed to speak for nan agency said nan request for nan canine to look patient would apt use only to signs of rabies, and not, for example, to injuries. Still nan caller rules, arsenic written, would forestall group taking a puppy to Whitehorse for an emergency vet assignment from coming location pinch their companion until nan canine reaches six months of age.

A typical for U.S. Customs and Border Protection successful Alaska said he is still waiting to perceive from nan CDC for specifications connected really nan rules will beryllium applied.

Alaska’s legislature delegation is besides concerned astir nan changes. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola sent a letter to nan CDC asking for much information for group transporting their dogs complete nan border, including mushers transporting sled dogs from nan Lower 48.

“This norm does not activity for Alaskans who recreation pinch their pets,” Murkowski says successful nan release. “Many Alaskans spell done Canada to get to nan Lower 48 pinch their pups successful tow, and this norm will adhd unnecessary disbursal and complication for travelers. We are moving straight pinch nan CDC to hole this.”