How to Take a Dog From Canada to the USA

Dogs are allowed to enter the United States.

Bringing your dog back from a trip to Canada entails a coordinated effort on the part of the United States to ensure the health and protection of the country. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security oversees all activities at border crossings, including the importation of animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal and Animal Product Import Division regulates animals coming into the United States. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service agents are responsible for determining the health of animals at the border and regulating the import and export of animals. Dog owners are not required to have health certificates to enter the country, but airlines and individual states may impose those rules.

Things You'll Need

• Rabies certificate

Instructions

1. Declare the importation of a dog when speaking with the U.S. Customs agent. Provide proof of vaccination for the dog, if the agent asks.

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2. Provide proof of rabies vaccination for the dog. Rabies vaccinations are not considered active until 30 days after the vaccination was distributed. Dogs travelling without proof of rabies vaccination typically are allowed into the country, as long as the owner agrees to keep the animal contained until properly vaccinated. Dogs entering the U.S. from rabies-free countries are not required to produce proof of vaccination if located in the rabies-free country for at least six months.

3. Allow the U.S. Customs official to observe the dog for signs of diseases possibly contagious to humans. Dogs that appear to have an illness may be detained for additional examination by a veterinarian at the owner's expense.

4. Receive clearance from the U.S. Customs officials and continue traveling to your final destination.

Tips & Warnings

• Rabies vaccination requirements apply to service animals as well, including seeing eye dogs.

• Puppies less than three-months old must be contained until an appropriate age for vaccination. Once vaccinated, they must remain in confinement for 30 days.

• Unvaccinated dogs must receive vaccinations within four days of arriving at the final destination and within no more than 10 days from entering the U.S.

• Dogs may be not be sold or given to other owners during the confinement period.

References

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal And Animal Product Import Information
• Centers For Disease Control: Bringing A Dog Into The United States

Resources

• CDC: Countries And Political Units Reporting No Indigenous Cases Of Rabies During 2005