Dear Passengers,
Effective August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States will implement new requirements for the entry of dogs. According to these new requirements, in addition to having the necessary documents, all dogs vaccinated against rabies outside the U.S., including dogs checked in as pets and guide dogs or hearing dogs for disabled passengers, can only enter through six designated ports: New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Atlanta (ATL) and Philadelphia (PHL). Additionally, these dogs must be booked at CDC-registered animal care facilities. If such dogs are denied entry, they must be returned to their point of origin within 72 hours. According to the Announcement [2019] No. 5 of General Administration of Customs (GACC) on Further Regulations Regarding the Quarantine and Supervision of Pets Entering China, once a dog is returned, it may be difficult to meet China's entry requirements.
Currently, our flights to the U.S. include destinations in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Washington (IAD), and San Francisco (SFO). However, return flights from Washington (IAD) have intervals exceeding 72 hours, making it impossible to meet the requirement of returning within 72 hours. Additionally, we have learned that CDC-registered animal care facilities in New York only accept dogs transported as cargo, and CDC-registered facilities in Los Angeles require dogs transported as baggage to be handled through cargo entry procedures upon arrival.
Therefore, transporting dogs vaccinated against rabies outside the U.S. to the U.S. is highly restricted. If a dog is denied entry into the U.S., it is highly likely that the dog will be unable to enter either the U.S. or return to China, posing a significant risk.
Based on the above situation, we regretfully announce the following decision:
Effective immediately, we will suspend the transport of dogs vaccinated against rabies outside the U.S. on flights to the U.S., including dogs checked in as pets and guide dogs or hearing dogs for disabled passengers. If you have already successfully booked the checked baggage service for dogs or the service of taking service dog into the cabin, we will assist you with ticket changes or refunds.
If you receive a dog import permit from the CDC before August 1, 2024, we will still accept dogs vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. or other countries on flights to the U.S. until August 31, 2024.
We will continue to communicate with the CDC to resume the above services as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.
If you are bringing a dog vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. to the U.S., please ensure your dog meets all the following requirements:
1. The CDC Dog Import Form receipt. You can complete this form online via: https://cdc-786687.workflowcloud.com/forms/090dc543-7b2f-4538-b2c7-2919d12ecc73
2. A Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate: These forms are filled out by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA.
For details, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/us-vaccinated-high-risk-countries.html
3. Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them. The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid. The microchip number must be included on all required forms and supporting documents.
4. Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival in the U.S.
5. Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.
Dogs vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. can enter the U.S. at any airport, land border crossing or seaport. The actual port of entry should match the one specified on the dog import form.
Special note:
According to information from the CDC website, if you receive a CDC Dog Import Permit before August 1, 2024, you can use the permit to bring your dog to the U.S. until August 31, 2024, or until the permit expires, whichever comes first.
If you have a valid import permit as mentioned above, there is no need to book at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and you can enter through any of the following 18 airports: Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA) and Washington, D.C. (IAD).
When traveling, you also need to carry the rabies vaccination certificate issued by the U.S. or other countries, ensure your dog has an ISO-compatible microchip, is over 6 months old, and is in good health.
This summary is based on information from the official CDC website and is for reference only. For the latest and most accurate information, please be sure to visit the CDC website before planning your trip to confirm that your dog meets the CDC's latest requirements to avoid any inconvenience or loss.
For further information: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/
