Dog Owners in Niagara Region Get Good News From CDC

Howlin’ good news for dog owners in WNY and Southern Ontario as CDC relaxes proposed rule change.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has walked back a new proposed rule that would have left dog owners in particular whimpering as Canada’s cottage season is in full swing.

The CDC previously announced it was going to require, effective August 1, all dogs coming into the United States be at least six months of age or older and have up-to-date rabies vaccines in addition to a completed copy of an official CDC-issued form, with a photo ID, and certificate signed by a veterinarian stating the dog was vaccinated, healthy and microchipped.

Congressman Tim Kennedy was among several New York legislators who wrote to the CDC last week asking for leniency and a delay of the proposed change “to ensure people can continue to cross the Northern Border with their canine family members,” saying the proposed policy placed “an excessive burden on U.S. citizens, especially in border communities like ours, which will contribute to increased processing time, longer border backups and diminished economic returns.”

He was joined on the letter by other members of New York’s congressional delegation including Nick Langworthy, Elise Stefanik, Claudia Tenney, Marc Molinaro, Michael Lawler and Nick LaLota, making this a rare occasion in which Democratic and Republican legislators shared common ground.

This week, just days before the new regulation was to take effect, the CDC put its tail between its legs and changed course, with a statement released Monday saying the agency has “clarified and simplified” the process for bringing dogs into the U.S. from countries that are either rabies-free or are considered at low-risk for having infected dogs.

“To provide greater flexibility to the requirements for dogs coming from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries, when the rule goes into effect on August 1,
2024, dogs that have spent the prior six months only in dog rabies-free or low-risk rabies countries will be able to enter the United States with a CDC Import Form online submission receipt as acceptable documentation,” the agency says. “This form can be filled out the day of travel and the receipt can be shown to airlines and border officials as a printed copy or by phone. The receipt will be good for travel into the U.S. for six months from the date of issuance, including multiple entries. All dogs entering the United States must have a microchip and be over six months of age.

There are additional requirements for dogs coming into the U.S. for the purpose of being bought or sold, the CDC says.

Kennedy, on Tuesday, went a step further, introducing a bill to “permanently paws” the new rules.

“These new restrictions are an unnecessary overreach imposed on responsible pet owners. I will continue to fight to ensure our canine family members aren’t forced to be left behind,” he said from the floor of the House of Representatives, according to a video shared on his social media account.