AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine (WABI) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be rewriting the rules they put in place pertaining to dogs crossing the United States border.
“This is a huge sigh of relief even though we don’t know what the new regulations are going to be,” said Sarah Brooks, vice president of the Can-Am International Sled Dog Race.
Sarah Brooks is sharing her thoughts on the CDC’s decision to re-write the regulations relating to dogs entering the US. The lead up to this decision began months ago.
At the beginning of 2024, the CDC announced they would impose new rules for dogs crossing the border into the United States – under these rules, dogs must be microchipped, be at least six months old, and had to have significant paperwork that was certified by two veterinarians.
After hearing concerns from border communities, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote to the CDC. She explained that these new rules would have a negative impact on Aroostook County, particularly the Can-Am International Sled Dog Race, where many participants travel to the race through the Canadian border.
“It would have created a lot of paperwork involved, visits to vets, and there aren’t that many veterinarians that are available near the Canadian border, and so that would have been a problem as well, just getting those certifications,” Collins said.
In September, these rules were temporarily relaxed until next April. Under the relaxed rules only one form is needed to enter the country.
Then, this week, the CDC announced they would be rewriting the regulations altogether, this time with stakeholder input.
“The director of the CDC, Dr. Mandy Cohen, contacted me to tell me that CDC is essentially going to start all over on these rules starting probably in April,” Collins said.
“Once the CDC does come up with their new regulations, yes there will be a period for public comment, and I think we have to be very vigilant about being on top of what the CDC is proposing, and I think we have to be very, very vigilant, not only on behalf of the Can-Am, but on behalf of many of the stakeholders,” Brooks said.
Brooks says that the upcoming Can-Am race will not be heavily impacted by the current relaxed regulations, but notes that other dog industries, such as breeders and dog showers, are still impacted by the rules.
The regulations were originally put in place to limit canine rabies from entering the United States. However, both the US and Canada are considered free of canine rabies.
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