Tell the CDC to Reverse and Rethink Discriminatory Dog Ban

UPDATE (8/1/23): The CDC has extended their updated ban on the importation of dogs from “high-risk” countries for rabies through July 31st, 2024. Earlier this year, the Dog Import Ban was updated to allow dogs that have been vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. to reenter from a “high-risk” country for rabies without a CDC Dog Import Permit as long as they meet certain criteria, such as having a valid rabies certificate and a microchip. The guidelines have also been updated to allow foreign-vaccinated dogs to enter the U.S. from high-risk countries if they meet certain criteria.

Unfortunately, the list of requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs still includes a rabies serologic titer test from one of the very short list of CDC approved laboratories which are predominantly found in European countries not considered to be “high-risk” for rabies. This ban continues to put an incredible and unfair burden on pet owners who live, work and travel in countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as rescue organizations who work tirelessly to save dogs from the meat trade and give them new lives in America. The ban is also hurting refugees from nations like Ukraine who should not have to deal with the stress of potentially losing their pets to seek asylum in the United States.

Although some progress has been made, we must continue to put pressure on the CDC to end this cruel and unjustifiable ban once and for all. Please add your name below to stand up to the dog haters at the CDC and protect man’s best friend.

The United States CDC has recently enacted a near-total ban on the import of dogs to the U.S. The ban has had devastating consequences for dog rescue organizations, United States service members, U.S. diplomats, and everyday American citizens who are no longer able to travel with their beloved pets or vitally necessary service dogs. On October 14th this cruel ban will enter its final phase of implementation and will fully prohibit American citizens from traveling with their dogs to 113 countries.

It is estimated that 30 million dogs are killed for meat across Asia every year while countless others face terrible conditions as strays in countries around the world. Dog rescue organizations work tirelessly to save as many of these innocent animals as they can and many send dogs to the U.S. for adoption as family pets. Due to this new ban rescue groups across the globe are unable to get fully vaccinated, healthy, and carefully socialized dogs to their forever homes. Many organizations that rely on adoption fees to support their work are facing financial hardships and will not be able to rescue new dogs as they continue to care for those that would be sent to the U.S.

According to Foreign Policy U.S., diplomats and other officials have called the ban an “abrupt move that was made without consulting other agencies.” Many services members have been left struggling to find ways to get their dogs home to the U.S. while some members of the foreign service now heading abroad have been forced to make heartbreaking decisions to leave their dogs behind out of fear that they will not be able to bring them back into the country after their postings have ended.

This ban was not only poorly thought out it is overtly racist. The only way to obtain a CDC Dog Import Permit to bring a dog to the U.S. from a banned country requires a rabies serology titer test from a CDC-approved laboratory. Of the 65 CDC-approved laboratories 40 are located in Europe while only 7 European countries are on the banned list. There are only 6 approved laboratories in all of South and Central America and only 2 approved laboratories in all of Africa.

Rescue organizations are not eligible to apply for CDC Dog Import Permits.

Over a million dogs are imported into the U.S. every year, the vast majority are pets of American citizens returning from travel. Since 2015 only 3 dogs imported into the U.S. have been found to have rabies. This ban was crafted in a way that is discriminatory and excessive and Species Unite believes that the American public deserves an honest explanation for the motivations behind this abrupt and unnecessary policy change.

The CDC can and should do better to create an import system that protects the public without endangering the lives of dogs and which does not disproportionally disenfranchise dog owners traveling to and from countries with majority non-white populations.

Take Action Now

Please join Species Unite in asking CDC director Rochelle Walensky to reverse and rethink the discriminatory dog import ban.