Mixed reaction from rescue groups as Canada bans commercial dogs from high rabies risk countries

Commercial dogs from high rabies risk countries will not be allowed to enter Canada from September 28th.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced the measures to protect Canadians and their pets “to reduce the risk of introducing canine rabies” into the country.

According to the Canadian government, “commercial dogs may include, but are not limited to, dogs for resale, adoption, foster care, breeding, show or exhibition, research and other purposes.”

It does not apply to people moving to Canada with their pets.

Dozens of countries, including Ukraine, Jordan and Vietnam, have been classified as high-risk countries.

“It needs to be regulated, it really does,” Susan Patterson of the Vancouver-based Thank DOG I Am Out Rescue Society.

“What was easier 13 years ago because there weren’t as many organizations is probably a lot harder to monitor now.”

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In February, a plane full of animals rescued from Afghanistan arrived in Vancouver.

Afghanistan is on the list of banned countries as of September 28th.

Patterson told Global News she knew animals would suffer as a result of this decision, but she understood the reasons why.

“Maybe if everyone does a better job or understands importing a little better then I’m sure that will make everyone a better rescue organization.” It’s really super important to protect Canadians and Canadian dogs…to make sure the animals you bring are safe.”

However, not all rescue organizations agree with the new measures, as there should be regulations rather than bans.

“You have to realize that it’s already here in our foxes, bats, rats, raccoons, cats and horses,” said Jesse Adams of the RainCoast Dog Rescue Society.

“All kinds of animals can already get this, so are you really stopping anything to stop these animals from entering in terms of rabies? I don’t think so at all. But more thorough documentation, more thorough verification is required for these animals to come into the country? I agree with that one hundred percent.”

Adams added that better documentation is especially important when it comes to disease control.

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Canada currently has no active cases of canine rabies, but dogs with the disease were introduced to the country last year.

“One of the dogs showed no clinical signs of rabies for six months from the time of importation,” said Dr. Christiane Armstrong, director of the College of Veterinarians of BC, told Global News.

“Which is scary to me because obviously these two dogs probably came in with rabies vaccines and I say probably because that’s not always true.”

Dog rabies kills about 59,000 people worldwide each year, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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The ban comes into effect on World Rabies Day, September 28.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency advised that all import permits currently issued will remain valid until the end of the validity period stated on the permit and the import conditions contained in the import permit would continue to apply.

All import permits issued on or after June 28th will expire on September 27th, regardless of when the permit was issued.

From September 28th, import permits will no longer be issued.