On August 1, 2024, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement new restrictions and requirements for the entry of dogs into the U.S.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the serious health threats posed by the recent, continuing import of unhealthy dogs using fraudulent veterinary/import paperwork, and supports CDC’s intention of protecting the public from serious health risks. However, we remain concerned that banning the import of all dogs younger than six months of age is overly burdensome to responsible and law-abiding dog owners who do not present this risk.
AKC Government Relations (GR) staff have met with CDC staff as well as key members of U.S. Congress regarding the CDC’s recently finalized rule on the importation of dogs. AKC the shares the concerns of many responsible dog enthusiasts about the disproportionate impact the new rule will have on low-risk entry/importations, including those that regularly cross the U.S.-Canadian border for canine events, veterinary care, and breeder collaboration.
Anyone planning to bring a dog into the U.S. in the near future should familiarize themselves with upcoming import policy changes.
However, there may be opportunities to positively impact this policy in the future. Here’s what you can do:
Please continue to respectfully express your concerns to the CDC and to your members of the U.S. House and Senate. Congressional outreach is particularly valuable if you live in states that are close to the U.S./Canada border.
- Share your messages in personalized, individual emails, calls, or letters in which you represent your own situation or that of your club.
- Tell your story about how it negatively impacts you and your colleagues, events, etc. as responsible dog enthusiasts.
- Ask the CDC to work with the American Kennel Club and other organizations that represent responsible dog owners to consider exceptions for personally-owned dogs that can demonstrate little risk of canine rabies.
Other points you may wish to include:
- The final rule disregards the difference in risk profiles for personally-owned pets and dogs intended for transfer.
- The proposed rule for comment included exceptions, potentially reducing comment, but the final rule provided no exceptions.
- There is little risk from fully vaccinated puppies from low-risk countries entering the U.S. at four months of age.
Visit www.akcgr.org/officials/ to find out who represents you in Congress.
Contact the CDC at (404) 498-1600, or at cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov.
If you can, please also share your messages and any responses with the AKC GR team by emailing them to doglaw@akc.org. We will use these messages for reference as we continue to reach out directly to Members of Congress and the CDC.
Your respectful outreach can lay a foundation for cooperation between responsible dog owners and government agencies to protect both public health and canine travel.
Thank you.