What do the new rules say?
The CDC announced in May that beginning Aug. 1, dog owners must complete a new form and all dogs entering the U.S. must be over six months old, have a microchip and “appear healthy upon arrival.”
Additional restrictions and requirements apply depending on where the dog was vaccinated and if the dog has recently been in one of the more than 100 countries identified as high risk for rabies. A dog might have to pass a blood test or be forced to quarantine for 28 days in a CDC-registered facility, the costs of which fall back on owners, according to the CDC’s website. It can also be difficult to provide proof of a dog’s whereabouts, especially one that was a stray.
I hate to break it to you, but a lot of other countries already have policies like this for public health and environmental reasons, and the cost and quarantine arrangements always fall on the owner.
They probably either keep it in quarantine and then send it to the pound or put the dog down, unfortunately, if the owner isn’t able to prove that the dog is healthy enough to enter the country. Unless they decide to cancel the trip and go back where they came from.
Just because something is common, doesn’t mean it’s right. Of all the countries in the world, the richest one can certainly afford to provide it without cost.
We don’t have unlimited resources, and that’s frankly not a good use of them. I’m not saying there aren’t other worse things we spend money on, but I don’t think this would be a good use of our resources.
Why do you feel entitled to not have to pay for your dog’s quarantine? You own the dog and are responsible for its care and health, and if you’re traveling or immigrating you should have money to spare simply because those actions require considerable savings.
Do you also feel like your passport and birth certificate should be free?
Yes, and yes. What the hell is the point of government if it doesn’t provide social benefits?
To redistribute your tax money into the hands of a few wealthy peoples.