New rules for dogs could impact border travel, per congressional letter

The letter, authored by Nicholas A. Langworthy, a Republican representing New York’s 23rd Congressional District, expresses concerns over the recently finalized rule on the importation of dogs into the country by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While I appreciate the CDC’s efforts to ensure public health and safety, the new rule’s broad application have raised significant concerns among dog owners, breeders, and hunters who frequently cross the U.S.-Canadian border for canine events, veterinary care, and breeder collaborations,” Langworthy’s letter said.

Langworthy’s letter strongly requests that the CDC implement an 18-month delay to the new rule.

According to a report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the recently announced rule changes, going into effect August 1st, require any dog owners to equip their pets with a microchip and present CDC dog import forms, among other requirements, including a CDC import form that requires one section to be filled out by the dog’s veterinarian, with an endorsement from an “official government veterinarian” in the exporting country.

The Canadian Food and Inspection Agency has said it’s unable to offer this endorsement, according to the CBC.

Assemblyman D. Billy Jones, D – Chateaugay Lake, called for a delay in the new border requirements for dogs.

“The new CDC requirements for dogs traveling across the Canadian border must be delayed. Folks have been bringing their dogs across the border without incident for decades and there is no need for such harsh restrictions,” Jones said in an email, “This will directly impact the day travelers, campers, second homeowners and those with familial ties to the North Country and the many Canadians who visit our region who wish to bring their dogs with them as well as locals who cross the border with their dogs.”

Timothy M. Kennedy, D – Buffalo, and Elise M. Stefanik, R – Schuylerville, were among New York’s congressional representatives to sign onto Langworthy’s letter.

“The restrictions are set to be enacted on August 1, yet there has been no preparation or outreach to help people navigate these rules,” Jones said, in an email, “It is imperative that the CDC delays these requirements to get more feedback from professionals and to allow to prepare and ease such restrictions.”

An email from the North Country Chamber of Commerce also called for a postponement of the new rules.

“This seems to be a complicated solution in search of a problem warranting such new requirements,” Garry Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said, in his email, “Americans and Canadians have always been able to bring their dogs back and forth with little concern beyond advice to have rabies vaccination evidence with them.”

Douglas’ email called for an 18 month delay in new CDC requirements for all dogs crossing the U.S. border from Canada, set to go into effect in August.

“This is action by far away regulators thinking of countries elsewhere and not recognizing the day-to-day travel back and forth at our northern border and the impacts this will have, for example, on people used to taking their pets on vacation or to their campsites, boats and second homes across the border,” Douglas said, in the email, “And the required process is complex with no readiness to even comply and near zero awareness in U.S. and Canada border areas until just two weeks from implementation.”