Traveling with Pets, Importation of Animals and Animal Products

into the United States

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal/dogs.htm#dogs

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd Atlanta, GA 30333
• 800-CDC-INFO ( 800-232-4636 ) TTY: (888) 232-6348 24 Hours/Every Day
• cdcinfo@cdc.gov

CDC regulations govern the importation of dogs, cats, turtles, monkeys, other animals, and animal products
capable of causing human disease. Requirements for the importation of the most common pets are
described below. Pets taken out of the United States are subject upon return, to the same regulations as
those entering for the first time.

The CDC does not require general certificates of health for pets for entry into the United States. However,
health certificates may be required for entry into some states, or may be required by airlines for pets. You
should check with officials in your state of destination and with your airline prior to your travel date.

Restrictions on the importation of nonhuman primates, certain other animals, and certain animal products
capable of causing more serious human disease are described under Restricted Animals, Agents, Hosts,
and Vectors.

• Bringing an Animal into the United States

Requirements for importing pets, zoo animals, other animals, tips for traveling with pets
• Bringing Animal Products into the United States
Restrictions on animal products being imported into the United States
• Restricted Animals, Agents, Hosts, and Vectors
Animals that are prohibited from import
• Notice on Internet Adoption and Purchase Scams
Recent scams involving animals being imported into the United States from other countries
• Frequently Asked Questions about animal importation
• Additional Information about animal importation

Importation of dogs

A general certificate of health is not required by CDC for entry of pet dogs into the United States, although
some airlines or states may require them. However, pet dogs are subject to inspection at ports of entry and
may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be
transmitted to humans. If a dog appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the
owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.

Proof of Rabies Vaccination: Dogs must have a certificate showing they have been vaccinated against
rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States. These requirements apply equally to service
animals such as Seeing Eye dogs.

Importation of Unvaccinated Dogs: Dogs not accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination, including
those that are too young to be vaccinated (i.e. less than 3 months of age), may be admitted if the importer
completes a confinement agreement (see below) and confines the animal until it is considered adequately
vaccinated against rabies (the vaccine is not considered effective until 30 days after the date of
vaccination). Spanish, French, and Russian translations of form CDC 75.37 are available, but must be
completed in English.

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 Confinement agreement (form CDC 75.37) (68 KB / 1 page)

Translations of CDC 75.37:

• Spanish (56 KB / 1 page)

• French (69 KB / 1 page)
• Russian (211 KB / 1page)

Puppies that are too young to be vaccinated (i.e. less than 3 months of age) must be kept in confinement
until they are old enough to be vaccinated, and then confined for at least 30 days after the date of
vaccination.

Unvaccinated dogs must be vaccinated within 4 days of arrival at their final U.S. destination and within 10
days of entry into the United States, and must be kept in confinement for at least 30 days after the date of
vaccination.

Dogs may not be sold or transferred to other owners during this period of confinement, and the person that
signs the confinement agreement is responsible for ensuring the conditions of the agreement are met.

Importers must provide a contact address where the dog will be kept during the confinement period. If the
importer will be housing the dog at several addresses or traveling with the animal, all points of contact must
be provided.

Importation of Dogs from Rabies-free Countries: Unvaccinated dogs may be imported without a
requirement for proof of rabies vaccination if they have been located for a minimum of 6 months or more in
countries that are free of rabies.

Following importation, all dogs are subject to state and local vaccination or health certificate requirements.
All pet dogs arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are
subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements. Additional information can be found in the
Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.

Traveling outside the United States with your pet?

Before taking a pet to another country, contact that country's consulate or embassy for information about
their requirements.

Travelers are advised to also contact the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for additional
information and advice.

Are the regulations the same if I just want to drive over the border with my pet in my car, rather
than if traveling by air, or other means?

All animals entering (or reentering) the United States are subject to the same laws, regardless of the port or
method of entry.

If traveling by air, do I pick up my pet at the international airport or only at my final destination?

Pets are generally transported as baggage, and they go through the same procedures as baggage. If a pet
does not require quarantine at the port of entry, then an international traveler would pick up both luggage
and the pet at international baggage claim, go through customs, then re-check both luggage and the pet for
the domestic flight to their final destination.

Do I have to indicate I have a pet on my customs declaration card?

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Animals must be included when filling out a customs declaration card.

What CDC restrictions apply to interstate and intrastate movement of animals?

There are no CDC regulations on interstate and intrastate transportation of animals. USDA, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and various states may impose restrictions, depending on the animal. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, working in concert with CDC, has enacted regulations restricting the movement of
prairie dogs and African rodents.

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Tips for traveling with pets

How can I be sure my pet stays healthy while traveling?

CDC focuses its regulation efforts on ensuring the health and safety of the public.
While it is important to make sure your pet stays healthy while traveling, CDC is primarily concerned with
preventing the spread of diseases that affect humans. Consult your veterinarian for more information
regarding protecting your pet’s health while traveling. Additionally, the following link provides useful tips
regarding traveling with a pet.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel_tips.shtml

For more information about owning a healthy pet, see:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/

• IATA (International Air Transport Association) is an international trade

organization that represents over 90% of the scheduled international airlines. Many of
these airlines transport animals. There are some scams purporting to be members of this
transport organization. If you have any doubts or just want to verify that their name is
being used legally, please contact them at: Larper@iata.org or via hotline +1
514 ... . Also IATA does not endorse, certify or approve any particular container
manufacturer, brand, make or model. Nor does it organize, broker or sell shipping or
delivery services. For further information about IATA visit
http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/index.htm. For information on pet
travel and a copy of the applicable container for cats and dogs or how to measure your
dog, visit: http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/pets.htm

• IPATA (Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association

International) is an organization of professional pet shippers who arrange for transport of
pets anywhere in the world. There are scammers that purport to be members of this
organization. IPATA, as an organization, does not transport pets. Their members do but
under their own company names. If you are contacted by anyone using IPATA as part of
their company name or email address, it is most likely a scam. If you have doubts or just
want to verify that IPATA's name is being used correctly, please go to this web site:
http://www.ipata.com/page.php?rp=33. If you are contacted by anyone who says that
they are a member of IPATA, you can verify this yourself by looking up their company on
http://www.ipata.com/page.php?rp=17. If they are not listed, they are not a member!

• Airline Approved Kennel: There are no pet transport kennels that are pre-
approved by any Airline, or IATA, or IPATA, or USDA even if stated on the labels. Please
ensure that you purchase the strongest and most secure kennel you can find regardless of
misleading labeling. See below for more information.

• Fake Sellers: For those sites that list an USDA Number, please verify the number
by going to this web site and reviewing the pdf file of all registered pet handlers:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/index.shtml. If they do not list a USDA

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 handler registration number, you should ask for one. Pay particularly attention to the name
the number is associated with as scammers will often use a slightly altered name.

For More Information on Scams, there are several web sites that list Frauds. One
such site that publishes pet related scams is Fraudwatchers at http://fraudwatchers.org .
You can also do a web search using a term such as "pet scam" to find information on
scams. One useful page has information on what a scam email looks like. It is at:
http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/view.php?pg=fw_anatomy

Important -- Travel Container:

Many injuries, deaths, and escapes can be attributed to either the pet trying to escape the
kennel and as a result hurting its paws and/or gums, or due to actual escape. Escapes can
be due to a variety of causes. For example a dog can chew its way out of the kennel if it
can get its upper and lower teeth between slits or holes in the plastic sufficient enough to
apply force; dogs and cats may be able to push the door open or partially open and
escape; the kennel lock is broken or not properly latched; or the kennel itself is not
properly and securely assembled. For further information on the types of injuries of
transported pets, please go to the Department of Transportation consumer report page at:
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm Go down the long report to the very
last page for animals incidents. The reports are by month and year.

Tips on Selecting a Travel Container for your pet:

• Look for one that is put together securely, e.g., locking bolts
• Look for metal doors instead of plastic (pets may be able to chew through or
bend/buckle plastic doors
• Stronger doors have 4 metal rods that fasten the door to the container
• Ensure door lock mechanism is strong and effective
• No wheels -- most - if not all - airlines will not accept a container with wheels
• Airlines or Air transport organizations do not certify containers. Statements such as
"airline accepted" or "IATA Approved" are misleading.

Acclimate:

Be sure to "acclimate" your pet to the kennel it will be traveling in. Let it spend varying
lengths of time in the kennel several days before travel so that it is familiar with it. Some
pets are stressed severely by being placed in a strange cage. Also, you may wish to put
some article of clothing that you have worn into the kennel during transportation. This
may help calm the pet. An old T-shirt that you have slept in for one or more nights will
work well.

Sedation:

Sedation of your pet is not generally recommended for air travel. The pets safety is at
risk. Please refer to a statement from the American Veterinary Medial Association
(AVMA)

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Travel Abroad:

Always check with the destination a month or more in advance of your trip. Each
country has their own set of rules, some simple, some complex, and some require
quarantine. Please Go to this page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals.
Also check with one of our State offices for more information and/or to have health
certificates "officially" endorsed (some countries require government endorsement). You
can find your state office here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/

Don't Forget:

Many Animal Welfare Organizations have information on pet travel on their websites. It
is easy to find these organizations through a web search on such words as "pet travel"
etc.

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