Periodically we have seen comments/requests from people on the Rottie-L email list wondering what the ins and outs are of travelling with your furry friend north of the 49th parallel: Canada. What follows is an excerpt from the Health of Animals Act of Canada, the regulations of which you can read in its entirety as a webpage here, or you can download or view the PDF here. Most people reading this would be interested in the traffic/travels between the US and Canada. You can jump straight to the pertinent section here. What all of the gobbledegook really means is that you need a rabies certificate, signed by a veterinarian. You will speed up the process of crossing the border if you have the tattoo numbers of your dog(s) memorized.

If you have any questions, DO NOT CONTACT US. This page is only provided as an informational guide. The definitive word about what certificates are needed will come from the Agriculture Canada agent at the port of entry or border crossing.

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Dogs and Domestic Cats

17. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall import a dog or domestic cat into Canada from a country other than the United States unless the animal is accompanied by a certificate of a veterinarian of the country of origin that clearly identifies the animal and shows that

(a) rabies has not existed in that country for six months immediately preceding shipment of the animal; and

(b) the animal has been in that country for the six month period referred to in paragraph (a).

(2) The certificate referred to in subsection (1) is not required if the dog or domestic cat

(a) is accompanied by a certificate of a veterinarian that clearly identifies the animal and shows that the animal was vaccinated against rabies at least once in the last three years preceding the date of importation; or

(b) originated in Canada and is being returned to Canada directly from a country or part of a country designated pursuant to section 7 as having been free from rabies.

(3) This section does not apply to

(a) an assistance dog that is certified as a guide, hearing or service dog, where the person importing the dog is the user of the dog and accompanies the dog to Canada; or

(b) a dog or domestic cat under three months of age.

(4) Where a dog or domestic cat does not qualify for import into Canada under this section, an inspector may order the owner or the person having the possession, care or control of the animal

(a) to have the animal vaccinated against rabies within a period of time specified in the order; and

(b) to present a vaccination certificate to an inspector specified in the order; or

(c) to remove the animal from Canada within a period of time specified in the order.

(5) Every person who receives an order referred to in subsection (4) shall comply with the order.

18.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), no person shall import a dog into Canada from a country other than the United States unless the person does so under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Minister under subsection 160(1.1) and meets the requirements of section 17.

(2) Subject to subsections 17(1) and (2), a person may import not more than two dogs for non-commercial purposes into Canada from a country other than the United States without a permit referred to in subsection (1), if the dogs

(a) are accompanied by a certificate of a veterinarian that bears the signature of the veterinarian and the name of the veterinarian recorded legibly in the veterinarian's handwriting, and that clearly identifies the dogs and states

(i) that the veterinarian has examined the dogs and is satisfied that the dogs

(A) are not less than eight weeks of age at the time of examination,

(B) are free of any clinical evidence of disease,

(C) were vaccinated not earlier than at six weeks of age for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza virus, and

(D) can be transported to Canada without undue suffering by reason of infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue or any other cause,

(ii) the date on which the dogs were vaccinated, that the vaccine was licensed by the country of origin of the dogs, and the trade name and serial number of the vaccine, and

(iii) the date and time of the examination referred to in subparagraph (i), recorded legibly in the veterinarian's handwriting; and

(b) are imported into Canada not more than 36 hours after the time of the examination referred to in paragraph (a).

(3) Subject to subsections 17(1) and (2), a person may import into Canada from a country other than the United States, without a permit referred to in subsection (1),

(a) any dog that is more than eight months of age;

(b) an assistance dog that is certified as a guide, hearing or service dog, if the person is the user of the dog and accompanies the dog to Canada;

(c) not more than two pet dogs owned by that person, if the dogs are accompanied by that person to Canada; and

(d) any dog on a temporary basis, for competition in a show or trial, if, at the time of importation, the person provides an inspector with proof that the dog is entered in a show or trial organized by a recognized association, including the Canadian Kennel Club, the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Canada and the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. SOR/94-529, s. 2.

19. [Repealed, SOR/78-69, s. 10]

IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS FROM THE UNITED STATES

General

20.

(1) revoked, October 18, 1995.

(2) Subject to this Part, no person shall import any equidae, suidae or ruminant or any poultry, hatching eggs, bears or felines, with the exception of domestic cats, into Canada from the United States without a certificate of an official veterinarian of the United States or a certificate of a veterinarian endorsed by an official veterinarian of the United States that clearly identifies the animal and shows that

(a) the animal was inspected by a veterinarian within 30 days preceding the date of importation;

(b) the animal was found by a veterinarian to be free from any communicable disease;

(c) the animal was, to the best of the knowledge and belief of a veterinarian, not exposed to any communicable disease within 60 days preceding the date of the inspection; and

(d) the applicable conditions set out in these Regulations respecting the importation of that species of animal have been satisfied;

(e) revoked, October 18, 1995.

(3) Subject to section 31, an animal tendered for importation into Canada from the United States shall not be admitted into Canada if it has been in the United States for less than 60 days unless it is accompanied by

(a) a certificate of an official veterinarian of the country of origin showing that he has inspected the animal and found it free from any communicable disease; and

(b) a certificate of an official veterinarian of the United States showing that he has inspected the animal and, if the animal has been quarantined or tested, the duration of the quarantine and the result of the test.

(4) A certificate referred to in paragraph (3)(b) may be accepted in lieu of the certificate referred to in subsection (2) with respect to any matter certified therein.

(5) A certificate referred to in subsection (2) shall not be accepted if given by a veterinarian and endorsed by an official veterinarian of the United States unless the official veterinarian certifies that the person who gave the certificate is a veterinarian in the United States.

(6) This section does not apply to animal embryos.

(7) No person shall import any animal into Canada from the United States unless the animal meets the conditions that are shown on the certificate referred to in subsection (2). SOR/78-69, s. 11; SOR/79-295, s. 2; SOR/79-839, s. 8

(8) Notwithstanding any other requirements under these Regulations, a person may import any animal, including hatching eggs, referred to in subsection (2) for use in a laboratory if the person does so under a permit issued by the Minister pursuant to section 160.

(9) This section does not apply to animal embryos.

(10) An equidae, suidae, ruminant, bear or feline that was born after its mother was inspected is not required to meet the requirements of this Part, if the animal is imported into Canada at the same time as its mother and, unless the animal was born en route to Canada, the animal is identified on the certificate, referred to in subsection (2), of its mother. (SOR/98-409)

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