In an effort to prevent the spread of rabies, the United States government has announced updated regulations for dogs entering the country from abroad. The new rules, published on Wednesday, require that all dogs be at least six months old and microchipped. Additionally, dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common must be vaccinated.

The regulations apply to a wide range of dogs, including those brought in by breeders, rescue groups, and pets travelling with their US owners. The aim of these rules is to address the challenges posed by the increasing international travel of people with their pets, as well as the rise in overseas operations of rescue groups and breeders.

According to Emily Pieracci, a rabies expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the updated regulations are long overdue. The previous CDC regulations were last updated in 1956. Pieracci highlights the significant changes that have occurred since then, such as the increasing number of people traveling internationally with their pets and the higher demand for pets met by overseas breeding and rescue operations.

Under the new rules, which will take effect on August 1, dogs entering the US must meet several requirements. Firstly, they must be at least six months old, ensuring they can receive the necessary vaccinations and that the vaccines have enough time to take effect. Secondly, they must have a microchip placed under their skin with a unique code that can be used to verify their rabies vaccination. Finally, they must complete a new CDC import form.

Furthermore, there may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog has been in the previous six months. This may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs to ensure further safety measures are in place.

The urgency for updating these regulations comes from concerns regarding the spread of rabies. While the United States successfully eliminated the type of rabies that typically circulates in dogs through vaccinations in the 1970s, there have been instances in which rabid dogs have entered the country since 2015. The CDC officials have also observed an increase in incomplete or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates and encountered situations where young puppies were denied entry due to incomplete vaccinations.

The new regulations have received support from various parties, including Angela Passman, owner of a Dallas-based company that assists pet owners with international pet transportation. Passman believes that although the updated rules may require more effort from pet owners, the end result is a positive one.

With the implementation of these new regulations, the US aims to strengthen its preventative measures against rabies transmission through imported dogs. By ensuring that all imported dogs meet specific vaccination and microchip requirements, government officials hope to safeguard both animals and humans from this potentially fatal disease.

It is crucial for dog owners and those involved in the international transportation of pets to familiarize themselves with the updated regulations to ensure compliance and the safe entry of dogs into the United States.