[NAGDU] FW: CDC Dog Import Regulations Update

Thu Aug 1 21:44:35 UTC 2024

I think anyone can access the webinar, which was informative.

My hero Al is working on this new pesky regulation.  So glad to have a fierce lawyer on our board!

Tracy

From: advocacy at seeingeye.org <advocacy at seeingeye.org> 
Sent: Thursday, August 1, 2024 3:44 PM
To: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: CDC Dog Import Regulations Update

 <http://support.seeingeye.org/site/R?i=_a-7yClj4cL0waRjgyfRAzIR4qznq7ShS9pjnot3rdRmX6pK3NpbcA> 

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=ZFW9_2Xbt0I51lO5RNmN_Wb6-cc2O_t6bUkzAXqkj4vPZ1aIVwfIsA>  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=Shr5zXFwXxz0t_cxImb68Y53KW3r1kCQO2n62d4yC7R7sjxJytr1Yg>  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=Bbfbh-zjbk_V7OxNsKtNnLBnu6vW2CdWLme2SUhWcFEKBqh8koNWXw>  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=ID3cjDy1czDzIfIEzpMLFHzDVO1X7BjeQudrrA9g4CirlHo8FukN_A>  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=XECL63nSneavivLHgiaKnb8w0I03Q0AVUSXsFwjuYQ2eqxdRSlIR1w> , 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=s4lq8fLTEl0LAv5uBBidPtT0zgfOyYKlO5VW4PsIVvnTWh7JXPRxiA>  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=lQljmDFPnJ64DnTal6xNpqnHXF-90mjz4wE1e2wFACW0hb6F_e6G_Q>  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 <mailto:advocacy at seeingeye.org> .

Melissa Allman
Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations
The Seeing Eye

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