Therapy Dogs
The Department has developed guidance for handlers and facilities using therapy dogs. Anyone using such dogs should see the resources below to ensure that their dogs are properly licensed and registered, and that handlers and institutions are following appropriate health and training guidelines.
Continent of Africa, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Kingdom of Brazil, excluding the State of Santa Catarina, Burma (aka Myanmar), Cambodia China, People’s Republic of, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Haiti, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China), India, Indonesia (Republic of), Korea, Democratic Peoples Republic of, Korea, Republic of, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
Live finfish of most species may be imported into the United States without import requirements. There are 8 species of fish that will require an import permit and health certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian in the originating country: common carp, including koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), goldfish (Carassius auratus), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), tench (Tinca tinca), and sheatfish (Silurus glanis). 15.
**HPAI-infected countries are: Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Macau, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
Dogs entering the United States from these countries will require a rabies certificate and should be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 3 months of age and wait for 28 days before entering the United States. To avoid quarantine or applying for an import permit, dogs should also have a rabies titer test 30 days after their rabies vaccination and more than 45 days prior to import.
Effective May 1, 2018, an import permit will be required for many live animals including birds entering Alaska from Canada via a land border port. Cats and dogs are not included in this requirement; however, they will need a health certificate with a traceable number. Forms downloaded from the Internet will not be accepted.
Determining If You Can Bring a Dog into the United States
Whether you can bring a dog into the United States depends on where the dog is coming from—especially if from a high-risk country for dog rabies.
To enter the United States, your dog will be required to meet specific criteria. Start by answering the questions below to determine if you can bring a dog into the United States. STEP
NO: Dog can enter at any port of entry with a 6-month travel history statement and healthy appearance.
Dogs that have NOT been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months are NOT required by CDC to present a rabies vaccination certificate. However, when you enter the United States, you must provide a written or verbal statement your dogs have NOT been in a country that is high risk for rabies within the last 6 months or since birth if under 6 months of age. While CDC doesn’t require proof of rabies vaccination, CDC recommends that all dogs be vaccinated against rabies, and your US destination may have additional requirements. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States. STEP
NO: Dog is not allowed to enter the United States.
All dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months must be at least 6 months old to enter the United States. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States. STEP
NO: Dog is not allowed to enter the United States.
The microchip number must be listed on the dog’s rabies vaccination certificate. If you are unsure whether your dog has an ISO-compatible microchip, please contact your veterinarian for assistance. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
*The applicant is responsible for making sure the dog has an ISO-compatible microchip. If the dog does not have an ISO-compatible microchip, the applicant (or permit holder) can bring their own scanner that can read the microchip.
*Many US universal scanners have been unable to detect microchips that begin with the numbers 1 or 8. Please ensure your dog’s chip can be detected by a universal scanner if it begins with a number other than 9. If you are unsure, you should purchase your own scanner (available online) that can detect the microchip or have your dog re-microchipped.
*If the microchip cannot be scanned on arrival, your dog may be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense. STEP
YES: The dog may enter the United States under certain conditions.
See Option A at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.
Note: expired US rabies vaccination certificates will not be accepted. If your dog’s US rabies vaccination certificate is expired, proceed to Step 5. STEP
YES: If you are importing 1 or 2 dogs, see Step 6.
If you are importing 3 or more dogs, see Step 7.
NO: Dog is not allowed to enter the United States.
If you attempt to import your dog into the United States, the dog will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States. STEP
YES: The dog may enter with a CDC Dog Import Permit through one of 18 approved airports (Option B) OR without a permit through an airport with a CDC-approved animal care facility (Option C). See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States
NO: The dog must have a reservation to quarantine at an approved animal care facility in the United States upon arrival and enter through the airport where the facility is located. See Option C at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States STEP
YES: See Option C at What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States
NO: Go back to Step 6 for bringing 1-2 dogs.
Pet Passport
CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies and service animals. They also apply whether you are a US citizen, legal US resident, or foreign national.
If you don’t follow CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States. If denied entry, your dog will be sent back to the last country of departure at your expense. Country of departure is where the last trip originated—not where the dog was born or where it lives.
In addition, you must comply with US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and your US destination’s regulations. Regulations of US states or territories may be more strict than federal regulations. Please be aware that dogs imported for commercial (resale or adoption) purposes have additional requirements from USDA.