Canada ‘blindsided’ by new U.S. border rules on dogs, Holland says

As Canadians hole for caller rules astir dogs crossing nan separator coming into effect connected Aug. 1, Health Minister Mark Holland slammed nan regulations, stating they were not “thought done well.”

Canada was “surprised and blindsided” by nan U.S. announcement of caller regulations, Holland said while speaking to nan media connected Wednesday. The rules authorities that dogs entering nan U.S. must beryllium astatine slightest six months aged and meet rabies vaccination requirements.

“I’m rather concerned astir nan regulations that are being brought successful by nan United States, requiring, arsenic of Aug. 1, a number of caller measures for folks bringing their dogs crossed nan border,” Holland said.

“As group would beryllium alert today, erstwhile you thrust crossed nan separator pinch your dog, there’s not a batch of questions and you’re capable to spell backmost and forth, and that makes a bully woody of sense, because Canada isn’t a root state for rabies. We are a rabies-free country.”

As a result, it does not make consciousness for Canadians to beryllium required to capable retired paperwork for nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier their planned visit, he said.

Canada is not connected nan U.S. list of high-risk countries for canine rabies.

“The Americans adopted this arsenic a broad argumentation for each countries. I don’t deliberation they thought astir what they were creating astatine nan Canadian-U.S. border. We are arsenic amazed and blindsided,” Holland said.

The documents required dangle upon wherever nan canine has been vaccinated for rabies, and what countries they person been successful during nan six months earlier travelling to nan United States.

The CDC recommends that nan Import Dog Form beryllium filled retired online betwixt 2 and 10 days earlier presence astatine nan border, however, it tin besides beryllium filled retired person to presence if nan owners person net access.

The shape besides requires nan proprietor to upload a clear photograph of nan dog’s look and body. Dogs that are little than 1 twelvemonth aged astatine nan clip of presence should person nan photograph taken wrong 10 days of arrival, according to nan CDC.

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Holland criticized nan photograph requirement.

“Frankly, I don’t deliberation this is simply a bully usage of separator officers times,” he said. “There’s a batch of issues astatine nan separator … and whether my Maltese is different Maltese and having a separator serviceman fig that out, doesn’t make consciousness to me.”

Dogs are besides now required to person a “Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free aliases Low-Risk Country into nan United States” shape endorsed by an charismatic veterinarian and valid rabies records.

While Canada afloat supports impervious of vaccination and believes each canine should beryllium vaccinated against rabies, Holland said, requiring these forms to beryllium completed by veterinarians successful Canada will return sizeable clip to validate. Additionally, he said, ensuring each dogs person a microchip will beryllium costly.

“I deliberation Canada should beryllium exempt arsenic a state that is not a root state for rabies and that we should activity much intimately connected argumentation parity,” said Holland, adding Canada is besides waiting connected confirmation connected a grace play for this regulation.

— pinch files from Global News’ Amy Judd