It will soon be more challenging to travel to the United States if you bring a dog with you.
New rules from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) take effect Aug. 1.
Dogs must be at least six months old, have a microchip, and appear healthy upon arrival.
Owners must also fill out documentation on the CDC website before they get to the border.
More documents may also be needed depending on where the dog has been in the previous six months and its rabies vaccine status.
For dogs vaccinated outside of the United States, that includes an endorsement by an official veterinarian in the exporting country.
However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said it is currently unable to provide endorsement for export documents as the process is being discussed with the CDC.
“The CFIA recognizes the concerns and impact that the CDC requirements have on Canadians. We have shared this information with the CDC to support the development of a more streamlined process for Canadians,” the agency said on its website.
“The CFIA continues to actively work with the CDC to develop a specific process that will be used for dogs travelling from Canada to the U.S.”
More information is expected to be available in the coming days, according to CFIA.
