I haven pushed throughout the Canadian border from the US a number of occasions with my canines.
Individuals know I prefer to journey to Canada with my canines so that they usually ask me questions like:
“Can I take my canine to Canada?”
“How onerous is it to cross the US-Canadian border with my canine?”
“What guidelines do I have to observe when crossing the border with my canine?”.
I’m at all times completely satisfied to share what I do know based mostly on analysis and expertise.
UPDATED: This text was initially revealed July 2014.
Can I Take My Canine to Canada?
The quick reply is YES. Usually anyway.
With the best paperwork, and acceptable vaccinations, grownup canines can journey to Canada from the US (us) with you by automobile
Observe: to be clear, we’re speaking about compantion canines, not canines being imported for business sale.
A canine can’t journey throughout the border into Canada with their proprietor if:
- Your canine hasn’t had any vaccinations (getting Titer check completed doesn’t rely)
- Your canine doesn’t have a present rabies vaccination and proof of it. *(see the sub part beneath relating to rabies and getting again into the US)
- Your canine seems are sick with a communicable illness
Additionally, remember that Ontario has a ban on “pit bull” sort canines so that you won’t be able to journey there with one (supply).
In case your canine isn’t a pit bull however seems like one, convey paperwork proving that your canine isn’t one.
In any other case, your canine can journey into Canada with you.
Canine Rabies Vaccination Necessities for Getting Again Into the US
To enter Canada, your canine simply must have recieved the rabies vaccine and you should have proof of it.
There is no such thing as a requirement for the period of time that has handed between recieving the rabies vaccination and getting into into Canda.
Canines can enter into Canada if has been lower than 30 days between their rabies shot and the date you cross the border together with your canine.
Nevertheless, there is a ready interval for returning to the US.
The US requirement states a canine that has by no means been vaccinated in opposition to rabies should be vaccinated at the least 30 days earlier than arrival on the Canadian border crossing into the US.
Grownup canines older than 15 months of age, that beforehand acquired a rabies vaccination, given no sooner than 3 months of age, and that has since expired, might [travel across the US border from Canada] instantly after booster vaccination, with out the necessity to wait 30 days.
Ensuring it’s been 30 days between the rabies vaccine and journey both route throughout the border is one of the best ways to make sure you and your canine don’t run into any problems.
Are the US-Candian Border Crossing Guidelines the Similar for My Pet?
For puppies youthful than three months of age, vaccinations or proof of a vaccination is just not crucial TO GET INTO CANADA.
You’ll need to indicate proof of your canine’s age on the Canadian border, which you may get out of your veterinarian.
As listed above, the requirement to return to the US remains to be 30 days earlier than entry, no matter age.
For those who plan to convey your pet, who’s underneath 3 months of age into Canada, and you propose keep in Canada for longer than 30 days, you could possibly go to a veterinarian for a rabies vaccination at the least 30 days earlier than your deliberate return to the US.
That may be a tough, unsure recreation to play although. It could simply be greatest to attend till 30 days after your pet’s first rabies vaccination to journey to Canada with them.
Touring from the US to Canada with a Service Canine
There may be an exemption for service canines.
Help and repair canines can enter Candada with none paperwork, together with proof of vaccinations, if the canine is touring to Canada with the proprietor.
The one caveat is that the Canadian necessities state, for a service canine touring accross the border with out paperwork, the proprietor current documentation to help that the animal is licensed as a service animal by a acknowledged group.
An vital word right here: Beneath the People with Disabilities Act, service canine house owners should not required to hold any form of certification.
Moreover, any on-line companies that present “registration” for service canines should not authentic – they prey on the uneducated for a revenue.
So what’s going to Canada anticipate once they say, “documentation to help that the animal is licensed as a service animal by a acknowledged group.”?
In accordance with my good friend who’s a service canine coach, and the founding father of the weblog Pet in Coaching, says, “the organizations I’ve been concerned with do give some type of documentation to the service canine handlers” so I’m assuming this may be acceptable to Canadian border crossing guards.
Service canines touring alone or with different folks into Canada are topic to the identical laws as non-service canines.
Help and service canines touring again into the US do want proof of rabies vaccination as outlined above.
Required Paperwork for Touring Throughout the US-Canadian Border with Your Canine
For those who plan to cross US-Canadian border, you will want paperwork proving that your canine has had a rabies vaccination.
This paperwork ought to listing your licensed veterinary clinic, the commerce identify, date, and expiration date of the vaccination, and include your vet’s signature.
The rabies certificates should additionally embrace the proprietor’s identify (your identify) and an outline of your pet (breed, colour, and weight).
Concentrate on the timing necessities listed above.
To reiterate, if you find yourself getting into Canada there is no such thing as a required ready interval between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.
Nevertheless, entry into the US requires that your canine had a rabies vaccination at the least 30 days prior.
Transporting Canine Meals and Treats Throughout the Border
I’ve completed some analysis on what sort of meals and treats you’ll be able to’t cross the border with.
Bringing pet food and treats into Canada from the US
The final rule for bringing pet food and treats into Canada from the US are….
Vacationers might convey as much as 20 kg , or 44 lbs, (whole) of pet meals and treats throughout the Canadian border if it meets the entire following necessities:
- The pet meals or product should be of United States origin and be commercially packaged
- The pet meals or product should be within the possession of the traveler on the time of entry from the U.S.
- The animal that can eat the imported product should accompany the traveler on the time of entry
- The imported product is fed solely to the animal that accompanied the traveler into Canada
Bringing pet food and treats into the US from the Canada
In accordance with the US Division of Ariculture, vacationers might convey sure pet meals, chews and treats from Canada again into the US if:
- The objects should be in unopened retail packaging
- If the objects are uncooked (not shelf-stable with out refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried, then the objects should be labeled as a product of Canada or the U.S.
If you’re touring again from Canada by land, there’s a restrict of fifty lbs, or 22.5 lbs, per automobile.
You possibly can’t convey pet food or treats containing lamb, sheep or goat into the US from Canada.
Observe: after I researched this again in 2014, the laws said goat or lamp merchandise had been allowed if the label on the bag confirmed it was of US origin however that “loophole” doesn’t appear to exist anymore.
The underside line is to ensure all meals and treats are of their authentic packages, which lists the components and sources, and be ready to depart any objects deemed to be prohibited within the customized’s trash can.
What it’s Like Crossing the Us-Caadian Border with Your Canine
It may be nerve-wracking driving throughout the Canadian-US border when you don’t do it usually.
The border guards not often smile and ask a ton of questions that generally appear irrelevant.
The questions we at all times get requested embrace:
- The place are you from?
- What’s the goal of your journey?
- How lengthy will you be staying?
- The place are you staying (together with deal with generally)?
We additionally usually get requested small particulars about the place we’re going or an occasion we’re touring to Canada for.
Evidently making you nervous and asking particulars is a manner of figuring out whether or not you might be mendacity or not.
I’m unsure whether it is true however I’ve heard that the guards are skilled to make you nervous on goal as a result of a standard, sincere particular person will get nervous however somebody with lower than good intentions will act “unusual” – both sweating bullets or taking part in to too cool.
Touring throughout the border has been very easy for us.
I proudly waived my paperwork for my canines our first time throughout the Canadian border however the guard didn’t ask to take a look at it to confirm the data.
I’ve by no means been requested about treats or meals I’m bringing throughout the border both.
Though it’s uncommon, I’ve heard of individuals requested to tug apart for an inspection by border guards although.
I’ve solely ever traveled throughout the US-Canadian border in a private automobile however I’m advised that in case you are touring in an RV you will be inspected it doesn’t matter what.
Have you traveled throughout the US-Canadian border with pets? Do you’ve got any ideas or tales you’ll be able to share?