Ask the pet editor
Question: I’ve seen stories on how some of the U.S. Olympic athletes want to rescue the stray dogs in Sochi, Russia. Can they bring them back to this country? What sorts of regulations are involved?
Answer: You’d think it would be tough enough to qualify for the Games, but getting a Russian dog to the U.S. could be another Olympian task.
Assuming the U.S. government won’t suddenly exempt skiing, skating and snowboarding athletes from the usual rules involving importation of homeless yet adorable dogs, there are long waits ahead.
Although the USDA oversees imported animals, international pet travel is monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the CDC is really focused on rabies.
Dogs 3 months or older must have been vaccinated at least 30 days prior to U.S. entry, and proof must be provided. Dogs too young to be vaccinated must be confined upon arrival, remaining in quarantine until 30 days after the vaccination, according to the CDC.
As with all pets arriving from other countries, Sochi dogs will be subject to examinations at their ports of entry. If they are ill or found to have diseases that could infect people, they may be quarantined for a longer period of time and owners may be billed for treatment.
It would have been easier if Sochi were in a country considered to be rabies-free, according to the CDC. Albania, for example. Russia is not so lucky, thus dogs originating there face stringent rules.
Then there is arranging safe travel. You need mild weather if dogs are being shipped in a plane’s cargo compartment rather than in the cabin. And what about layovers? Some European Union countries may insist the dogs are microchipped and tickdipped before arrival.
The rules are put in place for good reason, said Kathleen Croteau, Arizona Humane Society lead veterinarian. The biggest concern, she said, is the possible introduction of new disease or parasite strains to the U.S.
That can also happen as pets travel within our borders. Croteau said Arizona experienced an increased incidence of heartworm that possibly was related to the influx of dogs after Hurricane Katrina.