WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAGM) – New CDC regulations went into place in August restricting dogs crossing the border into the United States. Under the new regulations, dogs must be at least six months of age, be microchipped, and have a dog import form filled out upon arrival. These restrictions are a reduction from the rules the CDC originally proposed earlier this spring, however, they still pose limitations for dog owners.
US Senators Angus King and Kevin Cramer, both co-chairs of the American-Canadian Economy and Security Caucus, have introduced a bill to address some concerns.
“Our bill basically corrects that problem and exempts those animals – diplomats, military personnel and service animals – from the various requirements of the bill, like having the chip embedded and a lot of documentation and a lot of paperwork,” Senator King tells WAGM.
Senator King says the bill would help those that don’t have a choice about bringing their dogs across the border.
“They’re traveling on behalf of the US government and we felt they deserved to be exempt from this sometimes onerous paperwork requirement,” he says.
This past summer Maine Senator Susan Collins formed a bipartisan group and sent a letter to the CDC outlining concerns about the rules. Last week, she received a response.
“I received a letter from the CDC Director indicating that she had taken into account what she’d heard from stakeholders and the 14 senators bipartisan group that I gathered together to write to the CDC about the dog importation rule,” says Senator Collins, “so I think we’re making progress in that direction.”
In the letter, the CDC explains the health risks they hope to prevent with some of the new rules, such as the microchipping and the six-month age minimum.
The letter states that the rules were first created to limit the risk of rabies entering the United States from other countries. The CDC explain that even low-risk countries could pose a rabies risk as some people try to import dogs from high-risk countries through low-risk countries.
The letter elaborates on how the CDC have made the importation process easier by reducing paperwork, (people coming from low-risk countries only need to fill out dog import form), and eliminating the need for a vet to sign documentation. The letter also outlines that the microchipping is necessary as it prevents falsified or unverified documents from being used. Additionally, the CDC state that the six-month age requirement is in line with regulations from the Department of Agriculture.
The CDC ends the letter by stating that they will monitor the impact of the regulations in the coming months and will adjust the rules if needed.
“The legislation that’s been introduced only applies to certain categories, for example, diplomatic families, military families, and service dogs,” says Senator Collins. “I want much broader applications because we’ve got the Can Am festival to be concerned about, and also there are people who cross the border every day with their dogs.”
It is uncertain if this bill will go through before the fiscal year ends at the end of this month, however, Senator King says he is optimistic.
“I think we got a shot at getting this through,” says Senator King. “It’s being supported by various groups around the country, so I think by the end of the year it will likely be in the Lame Duck Session, which is the session where we are back in Washington after the election.”
Senator King says if passed, this bill would have an impact on Aroostook County due to the number of border crossings in the area.
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