The CDC announced earlier this year that all dogs crossing into the United States would need to meet certain requirements in order to maintain the U.S. status as a rabies-free country, a status which Canada also maintains. At first the requirements laid out by the CDC were quite onerous for dog owners and they have since been revised. Here is what you should know if you plan to bring your dog from Canada across the border:
-You must complete the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) Dog Import Form. The form can be found on the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/importation, and you should complete it several days before crossing. It is for dogs that have been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the six months before U.S. entry. A receipt will be emailed to you upon submission of the form. You can print the receipt or show it on your phone. It is valid for six months, no matter how often you cross the border.
Your dog will need to be micro-chipped. According to friends who have crossed the border since these new regulations went into place, the border agents are not yet equipped to check for microchips (i.e. do not yet have scanners) and it is unknown as to when they may have scanners to check your dog for a microchip.
Your dog must by six months of age or older. This last rule has been quite contentious for those folks who want to purchase puppies from across the border or take their pup across the border. Vaccinated or not, you are no longer allowed to travel to another country with your young pup.
Dogs are not the only pets allowed to cross the border. Domestic cats have requirements that are similar to dogs. Your feline companion must have a rabies certificate documenting the date of vaccination, product name, lot number, and expiration of the lot.
Canada allows you to bring other pets, some of which may surprise you.
A bird is considered a pet if it is personally owned and cared for. It must be “a species commonly known as caged birds like birds in the parrot family, songbirds, toucans, canaries, finches, and cardinals.”
You are prohibited from bringing pigeons, doves, wild or domestic fowl, and game birds. It’s best to leave those at home.
Do you have a pet rabbit traveling with you? To cross into Canada, you only need proof that the bunny has lived in the United States for 60 days.
Maybe a Ferrett is your traveling companion. Follow the same procedures as you would a cat.