The continued vagueness surrounding the new measures for traveling with your dog to the United States may well complicate the holidays for several Quebec owners as authorities struggle to sort out the final details.
• Also read: Rabies vaccine and microchip: new, stricter rules start this summer for traveling to the US with your dog
• Also read: American border: new measures for dogs coming from Canada
“If I was a dog owner, this summer, I would change my plans because it could be complicated,” warned DD Annie Ross, columnist on Newspaper.
Last May, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced changes to the requirements for importing dogs into Uncle Sam’s country.
Before the 1eh August all dogs crossing the border must be at least 6 months old, have a compatible microchip and be in good health.
Their owners must also have a form and documents on hand, which vary depending on where the animal has been placed for the past six months, and demonstrate the dog’s vaccination status against rabies.
A few weeks before the deadline, the “blurring” continues, says DD Eve-Lyne Bouchard, President of the Association of Quebec Veterinary Doctors in Small Animal Practice (AMVQ).
The president of the Association of Quebec Veterinary Doctors in Small Animal Practice (AMVQ), Eve-Lyne Bouchard.
Photo taken from LinkedIn
For example, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website, the latter is “unable to approve export documents for dogs entering the United States because the process is currently under discussion” with US public health.
Bottleneck
It is also too early to know if the rabies preventive vaccine will be required at the US border.
“It will be much easier for everyone” if the dogs are properly vaccinated, argues DD Bouchard.
At this stage, “what we can really encourage is that for people whose animals are not microchipped, we’re sure it’s necessary, so we need to do it as soon as possible,” she suggests.
Veterinarians must also complete certificates for their clients. However, it is unclear whether an expert from the federal government would have to do the same.
The various stakeholders heard from The newspaper fear of bottlenecks, both at clinics and at federal CFIA offices.
“It’s stressful in the veterinary environment, I’m not going to lie to you,” says DD Bouchard.
“We lack employees […], there is a shortage, it is heavy, we work hard, emphasizes columnist Annie Ross. It’s going to add work, that’s for sure.”
Zeal
Details to be communicated to professionals this week.
Dog breeder Djanick Michaud, for his part, finds it difficult to explain the zeal of the American authorities.
Djanick Michaud is a dog breeder and founder of Zomarick Hardy Golden Retrievers.
Photo provided by Zomarick Hardy Golden Retrievers
Regarding the control of rabies, the “main argument” behind these measures, “Canada is one of the safest countries in the world,” mentions the founder of Zomarick Rustic Golden Retrievers.
The breeder also mentions that since the changes announced by the CDC, he “no longer has any requests” from his American customers to import animals into the United States.
