U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26) has introduced a new bill, the Homeward Bound Act, which would give military families, diplomatic families, and service dogs an 18-month waiver from the CDC’s new pet travel rule, which requires all dogs coming into the U.S. from other countries be at least 6 months old and microchipped to help prevent the spread of rabies. The proposed bill would also eliminate the age requirement and require microchips for dogs born after enactment of the bill.

We encourage you to contact your federal House representative by letter or phone, urging them to support this bill. When reaching out, consider sharing how this legislation impacts you as an international dog show competitor, particularly for events held in Canada and Mexico. Highlight how this bill would ease travel requirements for you and your dogs attending kennel club-sanctioned shows and breed-sponsored events abroad.

Please also feel free to share this information with friends outside of ASCA.

For more information: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2024/10/17/new-bill-seeks-to-add-18-month-waiver-from-cdc-international-pet-travel-rule

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