New US rules for dogs hope to prevent spread of rabies

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All dogs coming into the United States from other countries must be at least six months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies.

The rules apply to dogs brought in by breeders or rescue groups and pets travelling with their US owners.

The new rules take effect on August 1, when a temporary 2021 order expires. The 2021 order stopped people from bringing dogs into the country if those dogs came from places where rabies is common. This applied to over 100 countries.

Dogs were once common carriers of the rabies virus in the US. However, the type normally found in dogs was eliminated through vaccinations in the 1970s.

The virus almost always leads to death in animals and humans, and there is no cure for it once symptoms begin. It is most commonly spread through a bite from an infected animal (see graphic).

Four rabid dogs have been identified entering the US since 2015. Officials at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention worry that more could get through.

There has been an increase in incomplete or fake rabies vaccination certificates. In addition, more puppies are being denied entry into the country because they are not old enough to be fully vaccinated.