[Cagdu] Fwd: CDC Dog Import Regulations Update

Wed Aug 7 08:47:33 PDT 2024

Hi CAGDU,
Below please find the information regarding the new dog import regulations
we briefly discussed last night at the CAGDU meeting.
Thanks.
Shannon

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: advocacy at seeingeye.org <advocacy at seeingeye.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 1, 2024 at 12:43 PM
Subject: CDC Dog Import Regulations Update
To: Shannon Dillon <shannonldillon at gmail.com>

[image: The Seeing Eye®]
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=MiJiWusOleiW9MlgAMw2tkLmpgybCvTj5r8xZgVSDTiMDz-eJmQmtg>

Greetings Seeing Eye Graduate:

As you probably know by now from our previous communications and from the
news, the CDC issued a new dog import regulation on May 13 that went into
effect on August 1. As you may also know from attending our recent webinar
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=zl7mupPxj5wh1zzfrP7plfZrXiRXTJx83tPR5eHZUu92GCaiEDGIfQ>
on the topic, the CDC has responded to pressure from a diverse array of
advocates by relaxing the implementation of the regulation somewhat and
responding to some of the concerns raised about the burden the regulation
would impose on dog handlers. Here is where things stand as of the day this
email was sent, but be advised there may be more changes and you will hear
from us if so.
Requirements for Entering the U.S. with Any Dog

The CDC regulation requires all dog handlers, even people with service
animals, to complete a CDC Dog Import Form
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=RpftDtj864akTUvnw15rher1GL353WxdsOb4FoE0lCfdvlTOs2pILA>
upon entering or returning to the U.S. with a dog. You will receive an
emailed receipt by email that must be presented before entering the U.S.
This applies to travel by air, land, and sea, no matter which country you
are coming to the U.S. from. All dogs coming into the U.S. must be at least
6 months of age.

The Dog Import form you complete must be done before you arrive back in the
U.S. and although it is not extensive, you should review it to make sure
you have the information you need. You can use the receipt for up to 6
months to re-enter the U.S. from the country you’ve listed on the form, but
if you will be returning to the U.S. from another low-risk country, you
should complete another form to be safe.

If you are returning to the U.S. from a country that is considered to be
dog rabies free or low-risk
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=duTmDHApVGTz5vPNyXMKFbpI6tPrMJ0f_JZ56xxqvLNBv-ldMcCZ5Q>
for dog rabies, this is the only form you must complete in order to enter
the U.S. but you will of course still need to comply with international
health certificate and import requirements
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=thvPW8YX7Wfv6S9yKP-LEWnCo9iAkL6opY3v62n8hqTM9Ko5JeSZ-Q>
for your destination country.

If you are returning to the U.S. from a country that is considered by the
CDC to be high-risk for dog variant rabies
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=yPel6nmZrgVLcSHBQETqTJ1HeGmqB_ujHX-tYqHaupE2jj82u9zv-Q>,
you will need:

   1. The *CDC Dog Import Form* receipt: You complete this form online. It
   will only take a few minutes if you have the required information available.
   2. A *Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination* form or a
   USDA-endorsed export health certificate: These forms are filled out
by a U.S.
   Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited veterinarian
   <http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=RhGXZBi9pULeBao7klFibE2PkYiL63XJ_1t_dx3cUHidz1C-Xi9CEA>
   and endorsed by the USDA.

Evolving Advocacy Issues

The CDC Dog Import Form does not yet meet all accessibility standards
required by law, but the CDC is aware of this and is working with the
platform provider it used to create the form and Microsoft to address
remaining accessibility issues. Your experience filling out the form may
vary depending on which operating system and screen reader you are using.
Stay tuned for updates as we have them.

The CDC Dog Import Form now contains language stating that people with
disabilities needing assistance can contact the CDC. This language needs to
be stronger and clarify that people with service animals needing assistance
with the form must receive it. Stay tuned for updates on this as they
become available.

Airlines had raised concerns that the new regulation requires them to
create an “airway bill” for transporting dogs in the cabin. Airway bills
are normally used for shipping goods so the airlines did not have a process
in place for complying with this provision of the regulation and believed
they might be unable to fly service animals back into the U.S. The good
news is that most major airlines have now applied for a waiver from the
CDC, thus giving them no excuse not to fly service animals in to the U.S.
Those few airlines that have still not applied for a waiver have been
strongly urged to do so.

We know from an interview
<http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=248eSYYtbCkO_FgQ-aQVXT-T5xKiYKt_woLGlH5x4hC34wEOv8hmdw>
given by the Canadian Minister of Health and from Congressional sources
that the relaxed implementation of the CDC regulation is in place until at
least April of 2025. WE have no concrete information about whether the
relaxed implementation will continue as is after April of 2025 and we will
provide updates as we have them.

The National Federation of the Blind has been negotiating with the CDC on
the above-referenced advocacy points and The Seeing Eye has been in close
communication with Albert Elia, a lawyer and National Association of Guide
Dog Users (NAGDU) board member about their efforts. The Seeing Eye has also
been collaborating with other industry partners on advocacy efforts
concerning the CDC regulation.

We look forward to providing you with further information as the situation
develops. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at
advocacy at seeingeye.org.

Melissa Allman
Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations
The Seeing Eye
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-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON
Legislative Coordinator and
President of the California Association of Guide Dog Users,
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of California

Find your local chapter at www.nfbcal.org

-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON
Legislative Coordinator and
President of the California Association of Guide Dog Users,
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of California

Find your local chapter at www.nfbcal.org
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