Dogs entering US must be 6 months old and microchipped to prevent spread of rabies- new rules
All dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries must be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies
The new rules require vaccination for dogs that have been in countries where rabies is common
The update applies to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups as well as pets traveling with their U.S. owners.
The CDC posted the new rules in the federal register on Wednesday. They take effect Aug. 1 when a temporary 2021 order expires.
That order suspended bringing in dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.
The new rules require all dogs entering the U.S. to be at least 6 months, old enough to be vaccinated if required and for the shots to take effect;
There may be additional restrictions and requirements based on where the dog was the previous six months, which may include blood testing from CDC-approved labs.
The CDC regulations were last updated in 1956, and a lot has changed, Pieracci said. More people travel internationally with their pets