Crossing the Border with my Dog

[heritage2006]

I'm sure the answer is on this site somewhere.....but I'm cross-eyed from doing searches trying to find it !!

For the Canadians that travel to the States with their pet.....what are the restrictions, requirements etc.

I even checked some U.S. government sites and just kept being forwarded from link to link.

Hoping someone here will be able to help me with the answer. I have a small (10lbs.) dog.

[Ottawa]

A current rabies shot certification and a letter from the Vet stating the dog is in good health. That aside I have never been asked to show the papers. Most time do not even ask. Sometimes they ask if the shots are up to date and then have a nice day.

[heritage2006]

Hey Ottawa, Thanks for the info ! Last year (May, 2009) I was thinking I was going to be crossing the Border so had my dog checked out and rabies shot done.

I imagine that's too old now. I recall reading somewhere the certificate has to be within 30 days ??

Do you know if that is a fact ?

[Ottawa]

Rabies shot is usually good for a couple of years, Check your certificate for the expiry date

[normandlegra]

The certificate as to be at least 1 month old and not older then one year.

[pdq_bc]

hi heritage:

we always travel with the up-to-date papers to indicated all shots are current.
in all the years of crossing, I think twice we have been asked if we have papers for the dogs.

more common recently (last 4-5 years) we have been asked about dog food.
we always carry the original package (the food is made in CA., not Canada) - and once we were ask to surrender the dog food (but with having the packaging, all was okay).

regards, peter

[OneRVer]

I have never had trouble crossing with the pets. Now with the grandchildren that is a different story.

[mhs4771]

Don't travel with dogs, but we have been back and forth across the border with our cats (shows in Canada and across Ontario to Michigan). Current up to date Rabies. Usually have them in hand and only been asked to see them once or twice after numerous trips.

[caffe]

HI,
are you on the road yet
BOB

[Monacoach]

Quote:

I imagine that's too old now. I recall reading somewhere the certificate has to be within 30 days ??

Thats back wards as previously posted. Technically you have to wait 30 days after rabies shots to cross border but if you take your dog in annually this wont be a problem because the previous rabies shot is good for two years. Not likely that the 3o day issue would be enforced. To answer the OPs question..... all that is needed for a pets entry to the USA is proof of rabies shots. The vet provides you the necessary papers and a tag.... either should be fine both would be best.

[bobmac]

We have crossed several times at Port Huron and each time they query if you have dog food. In original packaging is fine most of the time but must not contain lamb or mutton which I believe are currently on the restricted list. We spent 45 minutes with the "Agricultural Specialist" because our Purina DF said "Purina Canada" but did not specifically indicate where it was made. Finally, they let us enter with it.

[Monacoach]

Well I guess they are worried that you might feed an American doggy your terrible Canadian dog food and cause an outbreak of Canadian doggasitus.
We had to dump our Canadian dry dog food once at that border..... not sure why they are so anal about it...... its not like Canada is a third world country....

[Diesel Guy]

Hello we travel with 3 dogs we have letter from vet within a month that they all up to date with their shots ( incl. rabies) never had a problem but this year when MR young Boarder Guard whats to see my dog food & the bag that is came in (go figure) so if you travel with your pet make sure you have the bag that the food came in our food was made in Canada. Hope this helps with your questions.

[jimkate]

We've entered the U.S.A a couple of times with our dog. Yes, you need current papers from vet re: vaccinations etc.

Re: dog food. It cannot contain lamb. It must be in the original bag. It's best if you hit the border with a brand new unopened bag. If there's anything in the ingredients list that is a problem, they will take the bag from you.

We learned this from experience. On one occasion, they went to take our dog food away from us because it was not in the original bag. We challenged them with the fact that our little dog required a special diet, special dog food, and it would probably take us a few days to find suitable food somewhere.

The customs officer asked us how much food our dog would need for two days, and that's how much dog food he allowed us to keep.

He also raised the riot act because we had two oranges in our fridge.

Oh well, thank goodness he didn't check in the basement.