ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – New rules surrounding dogs being brought into the United States could have big impacts in Alaska that would affect military and diplomatic families, service animals, show dogs and mushers.
Now, a new piece of legislation co-signed by Rep. Mary Peltola looks to tweak the new rules surrounding canines being brought into the state.
The new ruling came down earlier this summer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Peltola signed on to a new bill, the Homeward Bound Act, to revise the CDC dog importation rules to give certain owners and their dogs an 18-month waiver, among other relaxations to the current regulations.
“Alaskans rely on our dogs, not just for companionship, but for transportation and protection,” Peltola said. “Recent CDC rule changes are unworkable for many Alaskan families, especially those who frequently cross into Canada, and for dog musher teams that travel to and from the Lower 48. I’m proud to co-lead the Homeward Bound Act, which would remove the age and microchip requirements that make the travel or importation of dogs into Alaska over-complicated, as well as provide a blanket 18-month waiver to military and diplomatic families. Alaskans spoke up and we listened.”
The new rules went into effect Aug. 1 and are meant to keep a canine variant of the rabies virus out of the country.
The Homeward Bound Act provides an 18-month waiver from the CDC’s dog importation rule.
The act primarily impacts military, diplomatic families and service dogs. A requirement for dogs to be at least six months old when imported from low-risk rabies countries would also be eliminated.
Additionally, it would remove the microchip requirement for dogs born prior to the bill’s enactment and would only apply to dogs coming from low-risk countries.
Alaska’s delegation has previously been critical of the dog importation rule.
“This rule does not work for Alaskans who travel with their pets,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office wrote in a news release in July. “Many Alaskans go through Canada to get to the Lower 48 with their pups in tow, and this rule will add unnecessary expense and complication for travelers. We are working directly with the CDC to fix this.”
“Without adjustments to this rule, working dogs, sled dogs, and family pets will have to undergo arduous certifications and waiting periods, creating undue burdens and costs,” Sen. Dan Sullivan’s office wrote in a statement in July. “The CDC needs to delay and alter this rule until the reasonable concerns of Alaskan residents, pet owners, and veterinarians are taken into account.”
Jonathan Butzke, owner and manager of Talking Circle Media, has previously talked about concerns for show dogs. His partner Julie Marshall is the owner of Queen of Hearts Dalmations, an Alaska dalmatian show-dog and breeding company.
“We fly our dogs in and out of Alaska for national dog shows year round, and these new rules really make it almost impossible, even for people flying in and out of Alaska and Hawaii with dogs from other States in the USA,” Butzke wrote in an email.
Mushers also took issue with the changes.
“We do want high-quality dog care, so it’s not that we’re against its care system,” handler Tyler Schmitt with Redington Mushing said in July. “We have different, unique situations here with our lands and border crossings.”
According to Schmitt, these new requirements could create additional costs for out-of-state competition, which may cause some mushers to debate if the expenses are worth the race.
“How much it’s going to cost and how much more it’s going to be,” Schmitt said. “Which is therefore going to hamper some races.”
The legislation has been endorsed by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, the Canadian Snowbird Association, Signature Pet Transport, and Doug the Pug.
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