New rules will take effect as of May 15th in Canada in respect to dogs being imported for reasons of adoption, resale or breeding purposes.
These the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulations are intended to impose more humane transport and to assure better animal health requirements.
This endeavor was initiated after the inspection of an air shipment of dogs in June 2020, in which a number of dead and sick dogs were found and other non-compliance issues were identified.
Effective May 15, 2021, these changes shall include:
Multiple entry permits will be replaced with single entry permits, and importers will have to specify the number of dogs to be imported.
Dogs will require rabies vaccination at least 28 days before export to Canada (with an exception for recognized breeders) and will need to be treated for internal and external parasites prior to export.
Importers will be required to provide information about the travel route from the country of origin to the final destination in Canada, including the airport or land border crossing that will be used to enter Canada. They will also be required to schedule a CFIA inspection at the airport or land border crossing where the animals will enter Canada before the shipment leaves the country of origin.
Importers transporting dogs by air must have a post-import quarantine facility that has been pre-approved by the CFIA available in case arriving animals require further inspection and/or quarantine.
Dogs bred for commercial sale may have been exposed to other diseases or parasites that are not apparent when they are imported, or where they are kept in Canada before being sold.
Before taking a dog home, you should consider asking for:
the dog's vaccination records and other veterinary medical history
additional information about the where the dog was located before being offered for sale
information about policies on returns or assistance with medical bills if health issues are found after buying or adopting.
These changes aim to crack down on people involved in shipping puppies that do not meet Canadian animal health and certification requirements.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
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