Interim Guidance Document for Rescue Groups Bringing Dogs and Cats from Haiti

Background

Animal rescue and veterinary medical organizations working in Haiti estimate that there are approximately 500,000 dogs and cats in the country, including 150,000 animals in Port-au-Prince.¹ For the past 30 years, veterinary groups from the United States have been working to vaccinate and improve the health of these animals. The earthquake on January 12, 2010, and resulting aftershocks have left many animals injured, vulnerable to illness, and in search of food. In an attempt to care for the pets and strays left after the earthquake, several rescue groups have inquired about bringing dogs and cats into the United States. This guidance document was written for U.S. pet rescue and humanitarian relief workers who are considering bringing animals to the United States from Haiti.

U.S. Federal and State Government Regulations

Dogs and cats may be imported into the United States as long as certain requirements are met. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and individual state governments each have laws and regulations which must be followed to allow entry. In addition, airlines and shipping companies may also have their own sets of requirements and policies.

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USDA: Animal Import Requirements

USDA regulations regarding the importation of dogs focus on the risk to U.S. agriculture and on animal welfare.
These regulations can be obtained by telephone, e-mail or by accessing these websites:
- USDA Animal Plant and Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services
  - Phone: (301) 734-8364
  - Fax: (301)734-4704
- USDA APHIS, Animal Care
  - Phone: (301) 734-7833
  - Fax: (301) 734-4978
  - E-mail: ace@aphis.usda.gov

CDC: General Requirements

CDC regulations regarding the importation of dogs and cats focus on the risk to public health. These regulations can be obtained by telephone, email or by accessing our website:

CDC INFO

Phone:
- (800) 232-4636
- (800) CDC-INFO
Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Dogs

Must be healthy upon arrival
Must be accompanied by a valid rabies certificate

If imported dogs are too young to be fully vaccinated against rabies (i.e., animals must be 3 months old to receive rabies vaccination, and 30 days must have passed since the first vaccination) or there is no record of the dog’s rabies vaccination, the importer will be required to sign an agreement stating that the dog will be confined for at least 30 days at a U.S. port after the dog has been adequately vaccinated against rabies.

Cats

Must be healthy upon arrival
There is no federal regulation requiring imported cats to be vaccinated against rabies. However, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) recommends that all cats be vaccinated against rabies and confined for 30 days post-vaccination.

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Animal rescue groups that import dogs and cats for the purpose of adoption must meet all of the requirements as stated above. A dog will not be admitted into the United States for adoption by an individual unless it has a valid rabies certificate stating that it was vaccinated at least 30 days before arrival or, if the dog was not vaccinated before arrival, that it was properly vaccinated upon arrival and confined for an additional 30 days prior to its adoption.

Confinement means restriction of a dog to a building or other enclosure at a U.S. port, en route to destination and at destination, in isolation from other animals and from persons except for contact necessary for its care or, if the dog is allowed out of the enclosure, muzzling and keeping it on a leash.

It is recommended that animal rescue groups provide information about potential shipments to CDC in advance.

State Laws

Each state may have different laws regarding importation of dogs and cats. Before bringing animals into a state, check with the state’s department of health for additional details or USDA’s webpage on state animal importation laws.

Hawaii imposes special restrictions, including a longer quarantine period, because it is considered a rabies-free state.

Zoonotic Diseases of Concern from Haiti

The primary diseases of concern in dogs and cats coming from Haiti are rabies and screwworm. Every effort should be made to ensure that dogs and cats being imported from Haiti are free of these two diseases.

Rabies

Rabies is a deadly neurotropic virus that is most often spread through animal bites. Animals with rabies will often behave differently than expected. For example, wild animals may become unusually friendly, and domestic animals can become aggressive. As the disease progresses, animals may appear to have excess salivation due to difficulty in swallowing. Pet rescue and humanitarian relief groups should avoid dogs that seem overly aggressive, display paralysis, or other neurological signs. Because knowing whether an animal has rabies in the early stages of disease is difficult, rescue and humanitarian relief workers should exhibit extreme caution when handling any animal with unknown vaccination status and should immediately seek medical help if bitten. Visit CDC’s website for more information on rabies.

Screwworm

Screwworm is a type of fly whose larvae (maggots) develop in and eat the flesh of animals. Female screwworm flies prefer to lay their eggs in the open wounds of warm blooded animals, including humans. Once the eggs hatch, the maggots burrow into the surrounding tissue as they feed and develop. The maggots are capable of causing severe tissue damage or even death to the infested animal. Animal rescuers should examine animals for open wounds and for the presence of maggots in the wounds. If screwworm is suspected, the dog or cat’s wound should be reassessed by a licensed veterinarian. Visit USDA’s website for more information on screwworm.

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Animal Handling and Bites

Because of the potential for rabies, CDC recommends that anyone attempting to capture and handle stray animals in Haiti be vaccinated against rabies. Three pre-exposure vaccines for rabies, administered on day 0, 7, and 21 or 28, should be completed before travel. For further details, see Health Information for International Travel (the Yellow Book) .

Animals who have survived the earthquake, particularly those without their families and homes, may be fearful and aggressive towards strangers. If a rescuer sees early signs of aggression, the rescuer should proceed with caution and seek experienced assistance in the rescue of the animal.

When working with potentially aggressive animals, rescuers should:

Move slowly and talk softly.
Wear long sleeves, protective gloves, and closed-toe shoes to avoid bites and scratches.
Consider using an animal control pole for overly aggressive animals.
Visit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animal (ASPCA) webpage on Animal Handling Safety Tips.

If bitten or scratched by a cat or dog in Haiti, rescuers should:

Act quickly and wash the wound well with soap and water.
See a doctor right away, even if not feeling sick or the wound does not appear to be serious. To prevent rabies, a series of vaccinations may need to be started immediately.
Be prepared to travel back to the United States to get vaccinated. Adequate vaccination for exposure to rabies may not be readily available in Haiti at this time. People who have previously received rabies vaccine may need additional doses of vaccine after a bite or scratch to be fully protected.
After returning to the United States, tell a doctor or their state health department that they were bitten or scratched during travel to Haiti.
If possible, capture and confine the offending animal for 10 days to observe for signs of rabies or humanely euthanize the animal and have it tested for rabies virus.

Before going to Haiti, all travelers, including animal rescuers and humanitarian relief workers, should determine whether their health insurance covers medical evacuation and overseas healthcare. If not, travelers should consider buying supplemental health insurance for their trip.

In addition, all U.S. travelers to Haiti are strongly encouraged to review travel warnings from the U.S. Department of State and to seek general health protection information regarding travel to Haiti.

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More Information

References

Humane Society International and Human Society of the United States in Haiti: Action, Assessment, Answers [cited 2010 Jan 27]. Available from: http://www.hsus.org/hsi/disaster_services/reports_from_the_field/hsi_and_hsus_in_haiti_12510.html
*Recommendations based on the 2008 NASPHV Rabies Compendium

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