New CDC guidelines and how it could change traveling with your pet this summer

LELAND, NC (WWAY) –According to the Centers for Disease Control on August 1st, some changes could be coming when it comes to traveling with your dog.

According to the CDC’s website, dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet new requirements. Something Pender County resident Nicole Moss learned about after traveling to Canada with her dog.

“But now, there is a new form that this all has to been on in order to come back to the United States and you’re suppose to get it before you leave to go into Canada. But of course I was already in Canada so I was very worried,” said Moss.

Standard requirements still exist such as your dog having a chip and up to date vaccinations. A new online form must be completed with all that information as well and a veterinarian must sign off on it. But, it’s not necessarily that easy.

“This is a complication, because not all veterinarians participate in this USDA certification process and my actual veterinarian, she doesn’t participate in that. So, she had to then get her colleague in her practice who does to issue the certificate.”

That colleague was Dr. Dante Martin at Holly Ridge Veterinary Hospital, who said there are steps residents can take before traveling.

“The most important thing is keep educated. The rules change every day wherever your traveling, whether you’re going the military route or whether you’re just visiting abroad. Especially to the European Union, the rules change,” Martin said.

Moss is currently working on getting clearance for her dog Ziggy so they can return home back to the United States later this summer.