Veterinary Public Health


Pet Health Calendar
Contact Information
Veterinary Public Health Program
313 N Figueroa St. Rm 1127
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel (213) 288-7060
Fax (213) 481-2375
vet@ph.lacounty.gov
Adobe Reader
Get Adobe Reader icon
Note: PDF documents on this site were created using Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or later. If you are using an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (4.x or less), document functionality may be reduced.
 
Importing or Exporting a Dog or Cat

  

What you need to know about importing a pet into the United States (US):

 

Don't import a disease. When an animal is import into the United States, there is some risk that the animal may have a disease that is rare or not normally found in the United States. Animal importers should investigate the animal's original location and the exporter before importing a pet. They should also work closely with a local veterinarian to assure that the imported animal is healthy and stays healthy after arrival. Scroll down to read more about the risks of importing a disease.

 

DOGS

  • Dogs need to be healthy. A health certificate is not legally required to enter the US, but is STRONGLY recommended. However, some airlines may require a health certificate to transport your pet.

  

  • Dogs require an up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing they were vaccinated at least 30 days prior to entry into the US. If your dog has not been vaccinated against rabies (i.e. it’s too young to vaccinate or coming from a rabies free country), it may not be allowed to enter the United States. In some cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may allow it to enter the country, but it will be required to be confined after arrival. 

 

  • If your dog is placed under federal confinement (quarantine) in Los Angeles County:

    • The importer must provide a confinement address to CDC upon the dog's arrival (e.g. where the owner will be able to quarantine the dog, usually its new home).

    • It will be under quarantine at that location until 30 days (1 month) after rabies vaccination. Discuss rabies vaccination age with your veterinarian.

    • There will be two health inspections of your dog, one at the beginning of quarantine and one at the end of quarantine.

    • The dog cannot leave the quarantine site (except to see the veterinarian) and cannot have any contact with other animals or people outside the immediate caregiver.

    • If you have other questions, please contact our office at 213-989-7060.

 

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency in charge of dog importation. Click here to visit their page about dog importations.

  

CATS

  • Cats need to be healthy. A health certificate is not legally required, but is STRONGLY recommended. However, some airlines may require a health certificate to transport your pet

  

  • Cats do not need rabies vaccines to enter the United States. Some states and cities require cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Check with the authorities at your final destination to determine whether your cat needs to be vaccinated against rabies.

 

What you need to know about exporting a pet from the United States:

 

  • Have your pet examined by a veterinarian to ensure they are healthy enough to travel. Some airlines and countries may require a health certificate from your veterinarian.

  

  

  • The requirements for travelling with pets may be different for each country. Check the USDA’s website and work with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is legally ready to travel to the country of final destination. Please note that this process may need to be initiated 6 months or more before the trip, depending on the destination country's requirements. Click here for a link to USDA’s website about international regulations.

 

For other tips about traveling with your pet, check out these websites:

 

More information about the risks of importing a disease in an imported animal

 

 

 

 Last updated October 14, 2016

 
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
Los Angeles County Seal: Enriching lives through effective and caring services