Athletes group sues federal government over new dog import rule

The Athletes Alliance a lawsuit filed Wednesday against two federal health agencies asking them to rescind a new rule on importing dogs that took effect Aug. 1. The Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services say the new rule is intended to prevent the reintroduction of rabies in dogs into the U.S.

The rule Updates requirements for all dogs imported and brought back into the U.S., including additional documentation, mandatory microchipping, and stricter rabies precautions depending on the country the dog is from. It also bans dogs under six months of age from being imported into the U.S.

This last piece is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Sportsmen’s Alliance, which is being assisted in its lawsuit by a canadian dog breeder and some hunting dog owners. They say the blanket puppy ban and added bureaucracy in the federal government’s new regulations would cripple dog breeders outside the U.S. While the new regulations apply to all dog breeds, the groups say they would be especially problematic for hunting dogs, many of which come from Canada and Europe, and for dog owners who frequently cross international borders to hunt or compete in trials.

“Health certificates or vaccination records for puppies are irrelevant – puppies are banned entirely under the rule,” the Alliance explained in a press release about the lawsuit. “The puppy ban also has no exceptions, and this ban will completely destroy a thriving community of long-established Canadian sporting dog breeders who send puppies to customers in the United States. Similar breeding programs for sporting breeds such as Drahtaar (Germany) and Bracco Italiano (Italy) are also in danger of being decimated.”

The group and its supporters say the ban on importing puppies also disrupts the way owners have traditionally acquired their dogs. The general consensus among veterinarians is that puppies are ready to leave their mothers and be rehomed around 10 to 12 weeks of age. Canine Health Center at Cornell University says that eight weeks is a good minimum for most breeders. (It also points out that different states have laws (which prevent puppies from being sold earlier.)

When it comes to bird dogs, however, many experts recommend getting a puppy as soon as possible. The idea is to give a new owner time to bond with their dog before real training begins. Legendary dog ​​trainer Tom Dokken, who wrote the book on training and developing retrievers, also says that he finds it easier to start dogs at a younger age, when they are more enthusiastic and driven and before any developmental issues have arisen.

“We have started a two-week program of bird and gun control [for pups as young as five months] when I started my own business. It’s so much easier to see them at that age,” Dokken said Outdoor living of his philosophy on training younger versus older dogs in 2022. “The older they get, the harder it becomes to access that [prey] drive. If there are any social or developmental issues, this is the time when we can actually do something about it [to address it].”

Read more: How to Train a Duck Dog for His First Hunting Season

It appears the federal government had already encountered some pushback against the rule after it was first announced in May. On July 22, the CDC announced that it had “updated and simplified” the procedure for dogs coming from low-risk rabies countries.

These adjustments were not enough to satisfy the Sportsmen’s Alliance, which announced her intention to file a lawsuit three days later. The group alleges the rule violates both the Public Health Service Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

“This really hurts our members, especially in states like Michigan,” Todd Adkins, the Alliance’s vice president of government affairs, said in late July. “And that’s why we’re going to fight it.”

How the rule affects hunters and hunting dogs

The CDC has a a guide to the new dog import rule, which outlines the different requirements for dogs from different countries. Hunters and prospective dog owners can look to the CDC’s list of high risk countries to determine what steps they need to take.

Regardless of their country of origin, the CDC says all dogs imported into the U.S. after August 1 must have a CDC Dog Import Form demonstrate that they have the correct rabies vaccinations. They must also:

• Make sure you look healthy upon arrival;
• Be at least six months old;
• Make sure you have a microchip.

Dogs arriving from high-risk countries must meet additional requirements, depending on whether the dog was vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. or elsewhere. For example, dogs from abroad must undergo a physical exam and be revaccinated. These dogs must also be quarantined for 28 days if they do not have a blood test from a CDC-approved lab that shows sufficient levels of the antibody that neutralizes rabies.

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The CDC recommends that owners and breeders begin the import process by completing their paperwork at least two to 10 days before bringing their dog back to the U.S. or importing a new dog into the country. For dogs coming from high-risk countries, owners and breeders should plan to begin this process weeks or even months earlier, the CDC says. American Animal Hospital Association.