I haven pushed throughout the Canadian border from the USA a number of instances with my canine.
Individuals know I wish to journey to Canada with my canine so that they usually ask me questions like:
“Can I take my canine to Canada?”
“How laborious 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 all the time comfortable to share what I do know primarily based on analysis and expertise.
UPDATED: This text was initially printed July 2014.
Can I Take My Canine to Canada?
The brief reply is YES. Normally anyway.
With the best paperwork, and acceptable vaccinations, grownup canine can journey to Canada from the USA (us) with you by car
Notice: to be clear, we’re speaking about compantion canine, not canine being imported for industrial 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 under concerning rabies and getting again into the US)
- Your canine appears are sick with a communicable illness
Additionally, bear in mind that Ontario has a ban on “pit bull” sort canine so that you will be unable to journey there with one.
In case your canine isn’t a pit bull however appears 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 that you must have proof of it.
There isn’t a requirement for the period of time that has handed between recieving the rabies vaccination and getting into into Canda.
Canine 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.
Nonetheless, 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 very least 30 days earlier than arrival on the Canadian border crossing into the US.
Grownup canine older than 15 months of age, that beforehand obtained 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 path throughout the border is the easiest way to make sure you and your canine don’t run into any problems.
Are the US-Candian Border Crossing Guidelines the Identical for My Pet?
For puppies youthful than three months of age, vaccinations or proof of a vaccination is just not mandatory TO GET INTO CANADA.
You will have to point out proof of your canine’s age on the Canadian border, which you will 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.
Should you plan to convey your pet, who’s below 3 months of age into Canada, and you propose keep in Canada for longer than 30 days, you may go to a veterinarian for a rabies vaccination at the very least 30 days earlier than your deliberate return to the US.
That could be a difficult, unsure sport 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 canine.
Help and repair canine 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 assist that the animal is licensed as a service animal by a acknowledged group.
An essential word right here: Below the People with Disabilities Act, service canine homeowners aren’t required to hold any type of certification.
Moreover, any on-line companies that present “registration” for service canine aren’t official – they prey on the uneducated for a revenue.
So what is going to Canada count on after they say, “documentation to assist that the animal is licensed as a service animal by a acknowledged group.”?
Based on 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 form of documentation to the service canine handlers” so I’m assuming this could be acceptable to Canadian border crossing guards.
Service canine touring alone or with different folks into Canada are topic to the identical laws as non-service canine.
Help and service canine 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
Should you plan to cross US-Canadian border, you will want paperwork proving that your canine has had a rabies vaccination.
This paperwork ought to checklist your licensed veterinary clinic, the commerce identify, date, and expiration date of the vaccination, and comprise your vet’s signature.
The rabies certificates should additionally embrace the proprietor’s identify (your identify) and an outline of your pet (breed, coloration, and weight).
Concentrate on the timing necessities listed above.
To reiterate, when you’re getting into Canada there isn’t any required ready interval between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.
Nonetheless, entry into the US requires that your canine had a rabies vaccination at the very 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 possibly can’t cross the border with.
Bringing pet food and treats into Canada from the US
The overall 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 may 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
Based on the US Division of Ariculture, vacationers might convey sure pet meals, chews and treats from Canada again into the US if:
- The gadgets should be in unopened retail packaging
- If the gadgets are uncooked (not shelf-stable with out refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried, then the gadgets should be labeled as a product of Canada or the U.S.
In case you are touring again from Canada by land, there’s a restrict of fifty lbs, or 22.5 lbs, per car.
You’ll be able to’t convey pet food or treats containing lamb, sheep or goat into the US from Canada.
Notice: once I researched this again in 2014, the laws said goat or lamp merchandise have 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 verify all meals and treats are of their authentic packages, which lists the substances and sources, and be ready to go away any gadgets 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 if you happen to don’t do it usually.
The border guards not often smile and ask a ton of questions that typically appear irrelevant.
The questions we all the time 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 tackle typically)?
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 means 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 educated to make you nervous on goal as a result of a standard, trustworthy individual will get nervous however somebody with lower than good intentions will act “unusual” – both sweating bullets or enjoying to too cool.
Touring throughout the border has been very easy for us.
I proudly waived my paperwork for my canine 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 drag apart for an inspection by border guards although.
I’ve solely ever traveled throughout the US-Canadian border in a private car however I’m informed 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 may have any suggestions or tales you possibly can share?