The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not require Canadians to fill out lengthy paperwork before crossing the border from Canada with their dogs this summer.
The agency announced new rules in May aimed at keeping rabies out of the country.
Dogs must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and bring two documents, signed by a veterinarian, along with a photo of the dog’s teeth, which border agents must check upon entry.
The changes, which were set to take effect Aug. 1, were panned by the Canadian Veterinary Association, the tourism industry and the federal government.
Starting Aug. 1, dogs must be at least 6 months old, up to date on rabies vaccinations, complete a CDC application, include photo ID, be microchipped and have a certificate signed by a veterinarian confirming they are vaccinated and healthy. Veterinarians in Maple Ridge say the new rules go too far and will create backlogs at the border for veterinarians and their clients.
Canadian officials said they were trying to secure an exemption because Canada is a rabies-free country.
Health Minister Mark Holland last week secured some exemptions to the rules and said he expected a grace period. Monday’s CDC announcement goes further.
“These updates incorporate feedback received from the public, industry partners, and various countries regarding dog import regulations and clarify and simplify the procedures for people bringing dogs from canine rabies-free or low-risk countries,” the CDC said in a media statement on Monday.
As long as your dog has been in a low-risk or rabies-free country for the past six months, you will be able to cross the border with just an import form, which you can complete online on the day of travel.
Holland said Monday that the change was made after speaking with CDC Director Mandy Cohen.
“We have reached a point where the administrative burden on Canadians is limited,” he said in a statement posted on social media.
“We appreciate Director Cohen’s continued collaboration as we work to protect our nation from canine rabies.”
The change eased concerns from some activists who had sought an exemption for service dogs, but Michelle Burlack said there was still a lot of work to be done.
Burlack is a public relations specialist for The Seeing Eye, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that breeds and trains guide dogs and helps train guide dog trainers, including Canadians.
Seeing Eye was part of a group of US advocacy organisations that had been urging the CDC to grant exemptions for service dogs and their owners.
“Unfortunately, the CDC dog import form, while still required in all cases, is not accessible to those using a screen reader to access the page,” she said in an email on Monday. The original CDC form was also inaccessible to those using a screen reader.
Barlach also noted that animal handlers in countries with a high risk of rabies will still have to meet the original requirements as of August 1.
The CDC’s list of countries considered high risk for rabies includes many popular travel destinations, such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and Vietnam.
Without an exemption, service dog owners who have traveled to any of those countries within the past six months would have to go through a rigorous process of lengthy CDC paperwork and veterinary approval before flying to the U.S., even if they live in Canada or a rabies-free country.
In an interview Thursday before the changes were announced, Seeing Eye’s Melissa Allman expressed frustration that the CDC had not responded to concerns about how the changes would affect service dog owners.
“We believe this is a violation of our rights that we have worked so hard to build, maintain and protect since our founding in 1929,” said Allman, a guide dog trainer and advocacy and government relations specialist for the organization.
“I’m an advocate for people’s rights and I feel like I have to tell people, ‘Sorry, things aren’t as good as they used to be.'”
