After much hounding by federal officials, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is giving Canadian dogs a slightly longer leash when it comes to new rules aimed at controlling the spread of rabies.
Health Minister Mark Holland said Wednesday that he91裸聊视频檚 been able to secure some changes to the regulations for dogs entering the United States from Canada after a series of meetings in Washington, D.C.
91裸聊视频淲e made good progress, I think it significantly improves the situation, but it91裸聊视频檚 not enough,91裸聊视频� he said.
The federal government is arguing that Canada should be exempt from the rules entirely because there is no dog-maintained rabies virus in this country.
Holland said he91裸聊视频檚 waiting on confirmation that there will also be a grace period for the first couple of months, so people who are not in compliance would get a warning instead of being turned back.
But he said Canadian officials were 91裸聊视频渂lindsided91裸聊视频� by the changes announced by the U.S. in May and have not been able to secure a full exemption.
Pooches heading stateside after Aug. 1 will need to be at least six months old, vaccinated and have a universally readable microchip.
Their owners will need to fill out a CDC form and have a veterinarian sign an export document.
Initially, the CDC also required authorization from a veterinarian with the Canada Food Inspection Agency, something Holland said 91裸聊视频渨as going to be a massive problem for us administratively.91裸聊视频�
The rules also apply to Americans who are returning home with their dogs after a visit to Canada.
Service dogs are not exempt.
Holland said the new forms will put an extra burden on already-busy border guards, who will now be tasked with verifying what amounts to a doggie photo ID.
91裸聊视频淔rankly there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of issues at the border. Whether or not my Maltese is another Maltese, having a border officer figure that out 91裸聊视频� doesn91裸聊视频檛 make sense to me,91裸聊视频� he said.
Dr. Tim Arthur, the president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, said the regulations bring the U.S. in line with the European Union, and they come after 91裸聊视频渁 couple of close calls91裸聊视频� with dogs being imported to the U.S. from countries that have canine rabies.
Arthur said he91裸聊视频檚 relieved to see the adjusted rules for Canada, though he acknowledged they will bring new challenges for vet clinics that are busy to begin with.
He91裸聊视频檚 encouraging pet owners to plan ahead before they travel and above all, be patient. Some clinics may not be able to get the microchipping and forms done on a short turnaround.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be extra work. We91裸聊视频檙e gonna try our best to get it done,91裸聊视频� Arthur said.
Evan Rachkovsky, communications director with the Canadian Snowbird Association, said the May announcement created a great deal of confusion for frequent travellers.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 believe that (the new rules) make anybody safer. These are dogs that are coming from a low-risk country and the rules that they have currently in place are sufficient,91裸聊视频� he said.
The Frontier Duty Free Association, which represents duty-free shops at 32 land border crossings, said it is also urging the American officials to reconsider.
91裸聊视频淭his will once again disproportionately impact border communities and the tourism industry, which is still recovering from a prolonged border closure,91裸聊视频� said Barbara Barrett, the association91裸聊视频檚 executive director.
Holland said there could be issues for the supply chain as well, citing that about a quarter of long-haul truckers travel with their dogs and frequently cross borders.
91裸聊视频淚 remain hopeful that logic will prevail here,91裸聊视频� he said.
READ ALSO:
