The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled out new rules Thursday for people traveling with dogs.
The new regulations are aimed at preventing the spread of rabies.
Now, when you fly with your pet, you’ll need to fill out a “dog import” form and get CDC approval.
On top of that, your dog must be over 6 months old, have a microchip and “appear healthy upon arrival” before it can travel.
Additional restrictions and requirements may apply depending on where the dog was vaccinated and if the dog has recently been in one of the more than 100 countries identified as high risk for rabies.
A dog might also have to pass a blood test or be forced to quarantine for 28 days in a CDC-registered facility. The costs of that fall back on the owners.
As a result, several international airlines have said they will no longer allow dogs to fly to the U.S. in the cabin or in the baggage hold. Those include Lufthansa, Finnair, Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines.
Major U.S. airlines — including American, Delta, United and Southwest — say the new CDC rules do not change their policies for carrying pets, but all said passengers must fill out the paperwork as required.
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