During a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Federal Health Minister Mark Holland expressed concerns about the implications of the CDC’s new strict requirements for dogs crossing the U.S. border will have on Canadians. Holland said his plan is to convince the U.S. health secretary to exempt Canadians from these rules, including that all dogs must be microchipped.
As Canadians prepare for new rules regarding dogs crossing the U.S. border effective Aug. 1, Health Minister Mark Holland criticized the regulations, stating they were not “well thought through.”
Canada was “surprised and blindsided” by the U.S. announcement of new regulations, Holland said while speaking to the media on Wednesday. The rules stipulate that dogs entering the U.S. must be at least six months old and meet rabies vaccination requirements.
“I’m quite concerned about the regulations that are being brought in by the United States, requiring, as of Aug. 1, a number of new measures for folks bringing their dogs across the border,” Holland said.
Currently, driving across the border with a dog involves minimal questions, as Canada is not a source country for rabies. However, under the new rules, Canadians will need to fill out paperwork for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before their planned visit.
Canada is not on the U.S. list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. Holland argued that it does not make sense for Canadians to be subjected to the same requirements as high-risk countries.
“The Americans adopted this as a blanket policy for all countries. I don’t think they thought about what they were creating at the Canadian-U.S. border. We are as surprised and blindsided,” Holland said.
The documents required depend on where the dog has been vaccinated for rabies and what countries they have been in during the six months before traveling to the United States. The CDC recommends filling out the Import Dog Form online between two and 10 days before arrival at the border, but it can also be completed closer to arrival if the owners have internet access.
The form requires a clear photograph of the dog’s face and body. Dogs under one year old at the time of arrival should have the photo taken within 10 days of arrival, according to the CDC.
Holland criticized the photo requirement. “Frankly, I don’t think this is a good use of border officers’ time,” he said. “There’s a lot of issues at the border … and whether my Maltese is another Maltese and having a border officer figure that out, doesn’t make sense to me.”
Dogs are also required to have a “Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free or Low-Risk Country into the United States” form endorsed by an official veterinarian and valid rabies records.
While Canada fully supports proof of vaccination and believes every dog should be vaccinated against rabies, Holland said requiring these forms to be completed by veterinarians in Canada will take considerable time to validate. Additionally, ensuring all dogs have a microchip will be costly.
“I think Canada should be exempt as a country that is not a source country for rabies and that we should work more closely on policy parity,” said Holland, adding that Canada is also waiting on confirmation of a grace period for this regulation.