In 2016, the Canadian National Canine Importation Working Group, a collaboration of federal, provincial, and veterinary experts, released its findings on dog importation.
The group highlighted the risk of zoonotic diseases entering Canada through imported dogs, particularly rescue animals. They also noted a lack of oversight for both rescue animals and rescue groups.
Through its report, the Working Group aimed to:
- Mitigate health risks for animals and humans associated with both inter-provincial and international dog importation.
- Address animal welfare issues during transportation.
To achieve these goals, the group compared Canada’s import requirements to other countries, including the US, the UK and New Zealand, and identified gaps, especially for puppies under 8 months old. They also explored various options, including prevention, education, regulations, and non-regulatory and surveillance measures.
The Canadian National Canine Importation Working Group recommended expanding the existing permitting system for all dogs, regardless of age or purpose.
They also advocated for promoting local adoption over international rescues.
While acknowledging the challenges of completely halting dog importation, the group sought to effectively manage the process. In 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency implemented a permit system for puppies under 8 months old and mandated rabies vaccinations at least 28 days before export to Canada. This addressed a gap in import requirements compared to other countries. Since 2022, Canada has banned the import of dogs from countries considered high-risk for rabies.
External Link:
https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/media/h1cd40v4/report-of-the-canadian-national-canine-importation-working-group.pdf