Do you frequently cross the border from Tijuana to San Diego with your dog? You’ve probably heard in the last few months that there are changes to the rules for bringing your pet into the United States. Read on to learn more about the new requirements.
1. The dog must be at least 6 months old and have a healthy appearance
Your dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy upon arrival in the United States. For rabies-free or low-risk countries such as Mexico, the dog does not need a health certificate from a veterinarian.
2. The owner must complete an import form
You must complete an import form from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This form varies depending on the risk of rabies in each country. Mexico is considered a low-risk country.
You can fill out the form on the day you enter the country and it is valid for multiple entries for 6 months. You can either print it or show it to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer on your phone.
3. The dog must have a microchip
In addition, your dog should have a microchip under the skin that can be detected with a universal scanner and contains all the information for identification and confirmation that he is vaccinated against rabies.
It is important that the microchip is implanted before your puppy receives the vaccination, otherwise the vaccination will be invalid.
If you live in San Diego and don’t know where to get the chip, you can visit the San Diego Humane Society website to schedule an appointment at the nearest location. And if you live in Tijuana, you can call your trusted veterinarian and ask if they have the international microchip in stock.
Remember to ask for your puppy’s microchip number as you will need to include this on the forms.
