Central ND News

In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began implementing a revised dog importation regulation affecting all canines entering the United States. The updated rule mandates airlines to issue an air waybill for all dogs, including service and hand-carried dogs, and prohibits families from traveling with puppies under six months old. This has posed additional challenges for military and diplomatic families living abroad, as well as users of service dogs.

The stringent requirements—such as separating service dogs from their handlers during travel or preventing families from bringing young puppies—create logistical issues that are both emotionally and financially taxing. Similarly, cross-border hunting trips with dogs and transporting dogs from breeders in Canada have become more complicated.

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-ME), co-chairs of the American-Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, along with U.S. Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Mary Peltola (D-AK), introduced the Homeward Bound Act to address these issues.

The bill provides an 18-month waiver for military families, diplomatic personnel, and service dogs from the CDC’s new rule. It also eliminates the restriction requiring imported dogs to be at least six months old if they come from low-risk rabies countries. Additionally, it removes the microchip requirement for dogs born before the bill's enactment and those coming from low-risk rabies countries.

“The CDC’s dog importation regulation poses significant and unnecessary burdens,” said Senator Cramer. “Whether it’s Canadians coming to North Dakota to hunt with their dog or Americans going to Canada to pick up their newest pet, cross-border travel is common place... Traveling with pets is hard enough without saddling families with the CDC’s newest requirements. The Homeward Bound Act fixes this bureaucratic overreach while upholding public health protections.”

Despite recent revisions prompted by public and Congressional feedback, the rule still complicates pet transport from low-risk countries like Canada. In July, Cramer joined a bipartisan letter led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), urging the CDC to revise these regulations.

“Many American families enjoy the love and companionship of pet dogs — including those serving our country abroad,” said Senator King. “However, recent rules put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created additional hurdles that make bringing your dog back to the U.S... The bipartisan Homeward Bound Act would provide more flexibility for these Americans traveling back home from low-risk countries.”

“Families need the flexibility and freedom to travel with their dogs without government interference," said Representative Armstrong. "Unfortunately...the CDC decided to stretch the limits of government overreach by introducing a complicated rule that makes traveling across the border with pets more burdensome."

“Alaskans rely on our dogs not just for companionship but for transportation and protection,” said Representative Peltola. “Recent CDC rule changes are unworkable for many Alaskan families... I’m proud to co-lead the Homeward Bound Act.”

Additional cosponsors include U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jim Risch (R-ID). The legislation has been endorsed by several organizations including Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Signature Pet Transport, among others.

Click here for bill text.