New stringent requirements for dogs to cross U.S. border go into effect August 1
Truckers who cross either the Mexican or Canadian border with a pet should be aware of new requirements taking effect in August.
Effective August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will enact new requirements for dogs entering the U.S. in order to control the spread of rabies, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Starting in August, in order to cross the border into the U.S., dogs must meet the following requirements:
- Appear healthy upon arrival
- Be at least six months of age
- Be microchipped
- Be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt
Dogs that do not meet these requirements will not be allowed entry into the U.S. They will be sent back to the country of departure (not the country where the dog was born or where it lives) at the expense of the owner.
“Regulating dog importation helps protect the health and safety of people and their pets,” said Port Director Donovan Delude. “The rabies variant carried by dogs was eliminated in the U.S. in 2007 and we’re working diligently in concert with the Center for Disease Control to prevent its reintroduction.”
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is sounding the alarm about how this new rule could impact cross-border trucking.
“Due to these concerns, CTA recently wrote the CDC, indicating that many cross-border truck drivers travel with their pets as a companion, with some fleets estimating that upwards of 20 per cent of their long-haul drivers travel with their dogs into the U.S. Many drivers also have questions about potential impacts on admissibility, and the lack of education around this rule prior to its introduction at the border,” the CTA said.