CDC Extends Dog Import Ban Until At Least July 31, 2023 and Imposes Expensive and Additional Bureaucratic Requirements. Rescues and Dogs Suffer.
Despite bi-partisan please from congress, the CDC had extended it’s import ban for imports of dogs from more than 100 countries. Currently, imported dogs must receive a rabies vaccine, a rabies blood titer to show vaccine efficacy, rescues must supply CDC paperwork and fly dogs only into a handful dedicated CDC airports. Once the dogs arrive, the must be transported to a CDC facility ($170 transport fee), stay at the facility ($150/day), have another veterinary exam ($150) receive a second rabies vaccine ($80) and rescues must also pay a processing fee of $250). As you can imagine, this makes it nearly impossible for people to afford the initial veterinary care, the flight and crate, the flight volunteer and now all of the additional costs that total an adoption fee that rescues would need to charge. In total, we estimate the cost to bring over one dog at approximately $2600.
What can you do? Please consider writing to U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) who have previously written to the CDC requesting that this import ban be lifted or at least modified. Here is the story from last year: