George, a 1-year-old mixed breed, with his owner, Scott Russell, of Portland, at the Quarry Run Dog Park on Thursday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

It’s about to get more cumbersome to take your dog into Canada, whether it’s for a vacation to Quebec or a routine visit to the vet.

Starting Aug. 1, people entering the United States with a dog will need to fill out an import form for their companion – which must be submitted online – and provide proof the dog has a specific kind of microchip and is vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine record needs to be certified by a veterinarian.

Puppies under 6 months old and dogs that do not “appear healthy” will not be allowed to cross the border.

Honda, a one-year-old mix, licks his chops while waiting for a treat from his owner Evan Daigle of Hollis at Quarry Run Dog Park on Thursday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

The changes, which have been met with mixed reviews in Maine, are because of a rule the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved in May aimed at preventing the spread of rabies, according to the Federal Register. It’s also meant to curb the use of fake vaccination records used to import dogs from high-risk countries, the agency said.

The United States became free of the type of rabies found in dogs in 2007 – and Canada also is considered rabies-free – but if an infected dog crosses the border, it could pose a significant threat to public health, the CDC said. Dogs with rabies can transmit the virus to humans, pets and wildlife, and it is usually fatal once symptoms appear.

An infected dog that entered the U.S. in 2019 cost state governments $400,000 to investigate and treat people who were exposed, the CDC said.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine sent a letter to the agency this week opposing the new rule, saying she was concerned about its impact on Maine communities close to the Canadian border. She said she had heard complaints from Mainers who have to travel to Canada for veterinary care because it is the closest option.

The rule would complicate that travel and put pressure on border-area veterinarians who are “already struggling to meet the need” for care, Collins said.

Scott Russell, of Portland, opens the gate for George, his 1-year-old mixed breed, as Honda, left, and Max wait to play at Quarry Run Dog Park on Thursday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

It also could impact the region’s economy by creating “barriers to low-risk entry from Canada into the state of Maine,” she said.

Last year, Maine welcomed over 2.5 million people into the state from Canada.

“Residents of border communities live, work, worship, and visit friends and family on both sides of the border, oftentimes with their family pets,” Collins told the CDC.

She noted that one of northern Maine’s signature events, the annual Can-Am Crown International Sled Festival, would be severely affected. The sled dog races in Fort Kent bring thousands of spectators and tourism dollars to the rural St. John Valley area. Hundreds of dogs race, often on teams of 28, and participants from Canada would have to “devote significant time and resources certifying the vaccination records for each of these dogs,” she said.

Dogs that compete – and all dogs in Maine – already are required to be vaccinated against rabies. The need to certify vaccination status will “impose an unnecessary burden,” she said.

Collins also expressed frustration that several changes were made between the proposed rule and the final rule without an additional comment period. She requested that the CDC not enforce the rule on Aug. 1, and instead alter the rules to account for dogs with a low risk of rabies and allow for more public input.

To travel into the U.S. previously, dogs had to appear healthy and were only required to have specific microchip and a certified vaccination record if they had been in a high-risk country for rabies during the past six months.

Max, left, a 4-year-old Westie Schnoodle, watches as Nellie, 2, center, and Honda, 1, both mixed breeds, play at Quarry Run Dog Park on Thursday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

The new rule will require people traveling with a dog to plan ahead.

The microchip needs to be International Organization for Standardization-compatible and implanted before the dog gets a rabies vaccine. These typically cost $40 to $50.

“The reason for the microchip requirement stems from the need to uniformly and positively identify animals to validate the rabies vaccination and associated documents, which is the reason for the ISO-compliant microchip and no other chips on the market,” said Jim Britt, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.

A USDA-accredited veterinarian must administer the rabies vaccine and complete the certification of vaccination form. Dogs must receive the vaccine at least 28 days before leaving the United States.

Travelers can complete the separate CDC dog import form online up until the time of crossing – although the agency advises filling it out two to 10 days before arrival. A picture of the dog’s face and body is requested in the form, which will be available starting July 15.

Other documents are required depending on what countries the dog has recently been in or what country their vaccination was administered in.

Maine State Veterinarian Stefanie Bolas and members of the state Board of Veterinary Medicine could not be reached for comment Friday. Over a dozen veterinarians across the state were unavailable to speak about how the rule impacts them.

Dan Gilden, of Portland, said that he was not concerned about the changes in regulations, nor was he aware of them. His dog, Ziggy, a Portuguese water dog, is microchipped and vaccinated against rabies – although “she acts like she has rabies,” he joked.

Katie Mathews, of Portland, watches her 2-year-old mix, Nellie, center, play at Quarry Run Dog Park on Thursday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

He didn’t feel that they would be impacted by the restrictions if they choose to travel internationally because Ziggy already fulfills most of the requirements. He said he drove to Canada with Ziggy last year and said they made sure to have all the proper paperwork at the time and faced no issues on either side of the border.

Katie Mathews echoed that, saying her dog Nellie also is chipped and vaccinated. She was not previously aware of the change in regulations, and she hopes the CDC publicizes the rules enough, so people are prepared when they get to the border.

“Why change something that’s not broken?” Mathews said.

She also said that if the change prevents dogs coming in other countries from being adopted or cared for in the U.S. due to not being chipped or vaccinated yet, that would be unfortunate.

“If it hurts dogs finding a good home, that’s a bummer,” Mathews said.