The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been busily implementing stringent new procedures for bringing a dog into the country. And, since these rules apply to all dogs, even those taken to Canada or Mexico by waterfowl hunters, you had better follow the new requirements if you expect to bring your retriever back home.

The first newly enacted regulation is that no dog under the age of six months may be imported from anywhere into the U.S., so if you had it in mind to purchase a Labrador retriever pup from Great Britain, forget about it.

For hunters traveling outside of the United States with their dogs, the biggest change is that having an implanted microchip is no longer optional. It is mandatory. The chip must have been implanted prior to most recent required rabies vaccination, and the matching chip number must be documented on all required forms and veterinary records.

Then, since we are dealing with the government, we get into the inevitable required paperwork. In this case a “CDC Dog Import Form.” It is preferred that this document be completed online 2 to 10 days prior to crossing the border into the States, but it can even be completed as late as while standing in line at the U.S. Customs station, as long as there is a viable internet connection.

This new form also requires the attachment of a clear photograph of the dog showing its face and body. For dogs less than one year of age, the photo must have been taken within 10 days prior to the border crossing.

The tricky part of these over burdensome regulations is that, since other countries do not have these restrictive rules, you can easily take your pooch out of the U.S., but they will fully apply when you try to bring the dog back. So, if you have plans to take a dog out of the country for hunting, a dog show, companionship or whatever, check into this website and familiarize yourself with all the new rules and regulations that you must comply with. (www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs-entering-us-after-august-1.html#low-risk).

Delta Waterfowl, among other interested organizations, is actively working with C.D.C. to amend the new rules to make them less onerous on dogs crossing the border for hunting, competition, training and other legitimate purposes.

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