CDC border regulations for dogs take effect this week

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Dog owners on both sides of the northern border are speaking out just days before the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s new border regulations for dogs take effect.

“None of it made any sense. I felt at times like we were in the Twilight Zone,” said Deborah Williams, a resident of Colden who frequently travels to Canada with her Labrador retriever, Sam.

Last Monday, the CDC announced a relaxing of the rules for dogs arriving from no or low-risk countries, like Canada.

Despite the changes, there's been some pushback to the change from state leaders and dog owners.

“It was a solution in search of a problem, because there wasn't the problem. There isn't a problem,” Williams said.

The CDC website says dogs coming from our northern neighbors no longer require a rabies vaccination, but must have a receipt for a CDC dog import form.

“The form is very simple. It took me less than a minute to fill it out," Williams said. "That form is good for six months."

Other requirements state that dogs must appear healthy upon arrival and have a microchip to identify them.

“The border officers who have received very little information and have had no training in this as far as we know, are supposed to ascertain if the dog looks healthy?” Williams said.

State Congressmen Tim Kennedy and Nick Langworthy, who participated in a bipartisan house effort to roll back the regulations, acknowledge that while there is more work ahead, this development is positive news for Western New York.

State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said despite the changes, concerns remain regarding the slowing of border crossings for families and the supply chain of goods.

“This will also be detrimental to truck drivers, 25 percent of whom own dogs and travel with their dogs," Gillibrand said. "It seems to be a misinformed, ill-advised rule.”

The final rule is that dogs must be at least six months old to come into the U.S.

Williams said this will affect local breeders and agencies that rescue puppies from other countries, a few of which filed lawsuits Monday against the CDC.

These new regulations will go into effect on Aug. 1.

“I seriously hope that there are congressional hearings and I seriously hope that the director of the CDC is called to testify because this was a multimillion-dollar disaster,” Williams said.

For more information on the CDC guidelines or to fill out the required form, click here.

Click here for a list of local veterinarians that can help prepare dogs for their next trip across the border.