CDC regulations require dogs imported into the U.S. to be healthy and vaccinated against rabies before arriving in the U.S. Dogs that have never been vaccinated against rabies must receive their first vaccination at least 30 days before arrival. Puppies should not be vaccinated against rabies until they are 3 months old, so the youngest puppy a puppy can import into the United States is 4 months old. These requirements apply to all dogs, including service animals. Maybe. Maternity agreements are only intended to be used in certain circumstances if the importer of the dogs does not have a reasonable alternative to delay the importation of the dogs until they are fully immunized under CDC regulations. The CDC considers detention agreements a last resort when there is no other reasonable way to avoid importing dogs that are not fully immune to rabies. Questions about importing unvaccinated dogs can be directed to the CDC in CDCAnimalImports@cdc.gov. HHS/CDC, in collaboration with the relevant state and local authorities, has determined that, in certain circumstances, the terms of the maternity agreements are not enforced by the importer. National and local health authorities responsible for enforcing maternity agreements reported to HHS/CDC that some importers had provided knowingly or unconsciously inaccurate information about the place of placement agreement.
In other circumstances, as part of the follow-up to the continued housing of the dogs, state and local authorities reported that the dogs had not been properly kept in accordance with the terms of the maternity agreement (i.e. the dog was not isolated from other animals and people, unless it was the contact necessary for his care, or if the dog was allowed to leave the pen, it was not silenced and kept on a leash). (3) History of non-compliance with maternity agreements issued by HHS/CDC; If you arrive with a dog that has not been vaccinated against rabies and the CDC determines that you are not eligible for a delivery agreement, your dog may be returned to the dog`s home country at your expense. The maternity agreement is a legal document that states that you agree to lock your dog in an approved location in the United States until the dog is vaccinated against rabies. It is usually issued at the port of entry when a dog arrives that does not meet the CDC`s rabies vaccination requirements. CDC reserves the right to reject requests for termination agreements. This Federal Register notice explains the situations that the CDC will consider when deciding to allow the importation of dogs that are not vaccinated against rabies. In deciding when to administer a maternity agreement, CDC will take into account that if an importer is denied the opportunity to obtain a maternity agreement, the refusal will be in writing. The rejection letter received will include the reasons for the rejection, as well as detailed instructions on who to contact if you have any questions, including your name, address and phone number, as well as how to file an appeal. Individuals who wish to challenge the HHS/CDC decision have five business days after receiving the rejection letter. The importer must file the complaint in writing with the Director of the CDC, stating the reasons for the complaint and proving that a factual and substantial question of fact is being challenged.
HHS/CDC will publish a written response from printed page 39406 as the Agency`s final action. The appointment will be reviewed and decided by a senior HHS/CDC senior management official who will take precedence over the employee who issued the original rejection letter. Captivity is defined as the isolation of humans and other animals, with the exception of the contact necessary for the care of the dog. The terms of the maternity agreement are as follows: Maternity agreements are not automatically issued and must be approved by the CDC. Importers who sign the maternity agreement but do not hold their dog until it is fully vaccinated against rabies can be prosecuted. Unvaccinated dogs entering the United States from countries that are not considered rabies-free may be denied entry to the United States. Importing a dog purchased outside the United States or originating in the United States does not meet the criteria of a delivery contract. All dogs must meet the CDC`s regulatory requirements for importing dogs. Importers are expected to exhaust all other reasonable means of delaying the importation of dogs until they are fully vaccinated against rabies before being considered for a delivery agreement. Questions about importing unvaccinated dogs can be directed to the CDC in CDCAnimalImports@cdc.gov. The exposure and enforcement guidelines for dog ownership agreements came into effect on August 11, 2014. Prior to this date, insufficiently immunized but healthy dogs arriving at a U.S.
port of entry were admitted to the U.S. if the importer signed a dog detention agreement. As of August 11, 2014, maternity arrangements will be issued at the discretion of the CDC. However, subsection 71.51(c)(2) states that “the Director [of the CDC] may authorize the admission of dogs” that have not been adequately immunized against rabies, provided that the dogs are locked up in conditions that limit their contact with humans and other animals until they have been vaccinated. In general, the use of the term “should” in a regulation indicates a regulatory requirement, while the use of the term “may” indicates that the Agency has discretion in how it applies this particular aspect of its rules. Through this notice, and as explained in more detail below, HHS/CDC informs the public of how it applies its discretion in issuing and enforcing maternity agreements. With the significant increase in the number of maternity agreements requested by dog importers in recent years, the monitoring of maternity agreements to identify and remedy the violations described above has become administratively cumbersome. Investigations have shown that, in many cases where importers have violated their maternity agreements, these maternity agreements have been issued to persons who import dogs for commercial purposes or for reasons other than personal pets, which is contrary to the intent of the provisions of the maternity agreement. This approval includes a maternity agreement, which is a legal document stating that you will lock up your dog in the United States until your dog is completely immune to rabies. Containment refers to the restriction of an animal by the owners or their representative to a building or other enclosure isolated from humans and other animals (with the exception of the contact necessary for its care). The dog must wear a muzzle and be kept on a leash outside the pen. Because of the risk that insufficiently immunized dogs pose to public health, the HHS/CDC is releasing this guide outlining how it will use its discretion to issue delivery agreements to dog importers.
When deciding whether to issue a maternity agreement, HHS/CDC considers several factors to ensure that the terms of the delivery agreement are not violated or that an insufficiently vaccinated dog does not pose a danger to public health. The non-issuance of a maternity contract usually results in the refusal of entry of the dog(s). “Refusal of entry” usually involves the immediate return of the dog(s) to the country or countries of origin at the expense of the importer. The care of the dog(s) until their final disposal is also the responsibility of the importer. Among other important factors that may pose a risk to public health, here are the circumstances that HHS/CDC will consider when deciding to issue a dog detention agreement: Dog importers must choose a place where the dog will be locked up throughout the detention period. This is often the importer`s home, but it can also be a veterinary clinic, kennel or similar facility. Dogs under a maternity agreement cannot be moved from the specified place of delivery, even if accommodation continues at the new location. 1. The number of dogs presented for import shall be in accordance with the objectives of the dog breeding agreement. Name and address of the owner Breed, sex, age, color, brands and other identifying information for the dog Date of rabies vaccination and information about the vaccine product Date of expiry of vaccination Name, license number, address and signature of the veterinarian who administered the vaccination Puppies should not be vaccinated against rabies for 3 months, so that the youngest a puppy can be imported into the United States, is 4 months old.
These requirements apply to all dogs, including service animals such as guide dogs for the blind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes these issuance and enforcement guidelines for dog keeping agreements under 42 CFR 71.51. Under 42 CFR 71.51(c)(2), the Director of the CDC may approve the admission to the United States of a dog that has not been vaccinated against rabies or is not sufficiently vaccinated if the owner agrees to later vaccinate the dog and properly imprison it. These guidelines outline the factors that the HHS/CDC will consider when deciding whether to issue a dog inclusion agreement that allows entry to a dog that has not been properly immunized against rabies, or whether the dog will be denied entry. .
