The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dialed back a controversial new set of regulations for people who want to bring dogs into the country.
The more stringent regulations are intended to prevent the spread of rabies and more closely align with World Health Organization’s standards for dogs, according to the CDC.
Starting Aug. 1, dogs that have spent the last six months in countries that are free from or at low risk for dog rabies must fill out a CDC Dog Import form online but can do so on the day of travel and simply show the receipt to airline and border officials.
Dogs entering the U.S. also must be at least 6 months old and have a microchip.
In addition to simplifying the paperwork, the new change, announced on Monday, appears to drop a rabies vaccination requirement for dogs coming to the U.S. from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries. However, most states, including Maine, require dogs to be vaccinated against rabies when they are 3 to 6 months old.
Since the regulations were announced in May, they had faced pushback from veterinary organizations and tourism boards and had become a source of worry for dog owners and others — from an animal sanctuary owner in Houlton who crosses the border for veterinary care, to organizers of the Can-Am sled dog race.
For more information on importing dogs to the U.S. or to download a CDC Dog Import form, view the CDC’s dog importation page.
To find out if a country is dog rabies-free or low-risk, check this list of high-risk countries. Canada is not on the list.
