U.S. Senator Tina Smith joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in the Senate in sending a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen opposing a new rule that would create unnecessary requirements for individuals traveling with their dogs into the United States across the northern border from Canada.  

In May, the CDC announced the new requirements in a final rule – including restricting all travel for dogs younger than six months old and requiring numerous new certifications – without appropriate input from stakeholders and affected parties. The final rule was to take effect on August 1st. In the letter, the Senators urged the CDC to postpone implementation of the final rule until regulation can be drafted that allows the importation of dogs from rabies free and low-risk countries while still protecting public health.

“We formally request that the CDC not implement the flawed final rule as planned on August 1, 2024, and instead work with interested parties to consider workable solutions to address the concerns of responsible dog owners and visitors who demonstrate little risk of importing canine rabies,” the Senators concluded.