Dear Dr. John,
I have enjoyed helping dogs find homes for many years, including bringing dogs into the U.S. from other places. Puerto Rico has been a source of these pets through The Sato Project. These homeless dogs, with some love and good care including sterilization and vaccination, can end up in homes making for beloved pets. It has come to my attention that the laws will be changing soon regarding the importation of dogs. Can you shed some light as to what these new requirements might be? Current systems have worked for years and unwanted dogs in various places around the world need good homes too. D.I.
Dear D.I.,
The requirements are from the Centers for Disease Control and are supposed to take effect on Aug.1. They are as follows and are online: All dogs must be healthy on arrival, be at least 6 months old, have an ISO compatible microchip implanted prior to required rabies vaccination, have a CDC dog import form receipt, have government endorsed documentation of vaccine and/or travel history.
Part of the confusion is that it seems not to align well with the Healthy Dog Importation Act and legislation in the Farm Bill. The purpose is to protect public health and most certainly came about because of some rabid dogs being introduced into the country. Interestingly, the CDC provides for no exemptions and the same ruling does not apply to cats. I agree with you that unwanted dogs need good care and homes.
Hopefully, all of the existing confusion and misperceptions will all get worked out providing for safe importation of these dogs since rabies is globally the worst, and potentially fatal, disease that can be prevented by vaccines and that is transmissible to humans. Puerto Rico is a part of the US and therefore these new importation requirements may not apply in the same ways. It will also be interesting to see what happens to dogs coming in from Canada and Mexico since colleagues of mine have shared that dogs crossing the border often are never looked at, checked for documentation, and come and go with ease. Thanks for what you do in helping dogs.
Dr. John de Jong is President of the World Veterinary Association. He owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic and can be reached at 781-899-9994.
