Healthy Dog Importation Act

Healthy Dog Importation Act

This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for the importation of live dogs.

Prior to a dog's arrival into the United States, USDA must receive electronic documentation about the dog's health. The documentation must demonstrate that the dog (1) is in good health; (2) has received all necessary vaccinations and parasite treatments and demonstrated negative test results as evidenced by a certificate from a licensed veterinarian; and (3) is officially identified by a permanent method approved by USDA. Additionally, a dog entering the United States for transfer (e.g., for sale, adoption, exchange, or donation) must be at least six months old and accompanied by a USDA permit.

USDA must promulgate regulations to, among other things, deny entry of any dog in violation of the new requirements, require USDA to maintain a centralized database of imported dogs, and establish fees for verifying required documentation and issuing transfer permits.

USDA must provide an exception to any requirements under the bill for dogs that are transferred

• as a personal pet of U.S. origin returning to the United States;
• as a U.S. military working dog;
• for research purposes;
• for veterinary treatment under certain conditions, including appropriate quarantining; or
• for lawful importation into the state of Hawaii (from the British Isles, Australia, Guam, or New Zealand) if the dog is less than six months old and is not transported out of Hawaii for transfer at less than six months old.

USDA also has enforcement authority under the bill.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov