On April 2, 2008, the Division of Viral and Rickettsiai Diseases of the CDC, filed a report regarding importation of dogs into the US and in the summary of that report it states:

“The importation of dogs into the US poses a risk for the introduction of rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Federal regulations (42 CFR 71.51) currently require proof of valid rabies vaccination for imported dogs, but allow the importation of sme unvaccinated dogs, including dogs less than 3 months of age, provided certain requirements for confinement are met until the dog is vaccinated. Although there are no accurate surveillance data on the number of dogs imported each year, it is estimated (based on extrapolated data) that over 287,000 dogs were imported into the US during 2006. Of these, approximately 25% were either too young to be vaccinated or lacked proof of valid rabies vaccination. Import trends suggest that an increasing number of unvaccinated puppies are being imported into the US. Since 2006, that 287,000 per year has doubled. Importation from Canada, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, where no regulations are required, continues on a daily basis.

Not counted in the CDC’s estimated number of imports are those dogs that are brought into the country by various groups, such as Compassion Without Borders, United Hope for Animals in Southern California, Doglandia, Blue Roadrunner, and SAMM (Save a Mexican Mutt) – these are only a handful of such groups bringing dogs into the US from Mexico. This doesn’t include those groups bringing dogs in from Central America, Puerto Rico or the West Indies. These imported dogs are flown, driven, shipped, transported and sent to shelters throughout the US. Shelter owners say the importation programs are safe, moral and in demand. Although the work that these people do is admirable, one has to ask: What are their definitions of safe and moral? Bringing in dogs of questionable background and health issues from other countries while our own American dogs are euthanized is NOT safe or moral nor humane for those dogs already in shelters across the US. Accusing American breeders of causing overpopulations and high shelter kill rates is not safe, moral, just or fair.

Groups that convince the public that breeding should be restricted or banned should be looked at closely by legislators. Somebody has got to ask the question sooner or later: If all breeding is regulated, restricted or banned, how would these non-profit groups continue to operate? The answer is simple. They don’t need breeders here. They can continue to plead to the American public’s emotions about some dog in Egypt while they pursue the removal of the American dog breeders and their Constitutional Rights. That’s how big business works. In order to make more money, to get more orders or to increase the profit margin, they remove anything or anybody that could be remotely considered as competition while still keeping their sources in place. You won’t see non-profit importing groups pushing for the demise of all breeding or mandatory sterilization in those countries. It’s not good sense to eliminate your sources if your intention is to continue in the business of filling shelters and rescue groups offering animals that were “rescued from a puppy mill” to the unsuspecting public to adopt.

Now that you’ve read this article, you can ask those who do the importing yourself. More than likely, you’ll be told they do it “to save the dogs”. You can then ask them why they aren’t spending that money and time of the alleged “oversurplus” dogs that are already here. The general public needs to learn to research issues and think for themselves prior to repeating comments that they have been spoon-fed over the years. They need to stop listening to those whose intentions are less than honest and ask for facts and verifiable proof.

The above article in no way reflects the opinions of the NRTA. It is being printed as an article of interest.