Canada's federal health minister has issued a statement that the new U.S. rules about dogs travelling with their owners from Canada to the United States will have an impact on cross-border tourism and cross-border trade and will disproportionately impact people with service dogs.
The comments from federal Health Minister Mark Holland follow a recent ruling from the U.S. that will come into effect on Aug. 1 and will require tougher and updated rabies vaccines, stricter requirement on the animal's age along with a requirement for an ISO compliant or universally readable microchip, among other changes.
Indigenous peoples that regularly travel across the border to their traditional territories will feel the effects of these CDC regulations, said the statement.
The minister said the ruling will also impact many Canadians who travel with their dogs such as Snowbird tourists who have temporary residence in the U.S. and commercial truckers who often travel with a companion pet while on cross-border working trips.
The minister said his comments were in response to the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to make changes to their import requirements for all dogs entering the U.S.
"This has resulted in changes to the guidelines for Canadians, but the Government of Canada remains concerned by the potential negative impacts these new regulations will have on both Canadians and Americans," said Holland.
He said although Canada is free of the dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV), also known as dog rabies, the new rules will require Canadians to take additional planning and costs to meet the U.S. regulations which include the following conditions:
- Dogs must be at least six months of age;
- Dogs must have an ISO-compliant or universally readable microchip;
- Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival;
- A CDC Dog Import Form receipt is required for all dogs entering the U.S.;
- Have a Canadian export document issued and signed by a Canadian licensed veterinarian (Authorized Veterinarian) with vaccination and microchip information.
All dogs entering the U.S. from Canada will need to be accompanied by additional documentation, which varies depending on where the dog was vaccinated against rabies and where the dog has been in the past six months before entering the U.S.
A full list of the new regulations is on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
