Urgent Action Needed

Every year there are around 5,000 cases of rabies in the US, and in the past 8 years there have only been 4 cases of rabies from imported dogs. The CDC put out a new ruling that will make it virtually impossible for individuals or responsible non-profits to help dogs overseas on account of preventing the spread of rabies.

Please join Sochi Dogs and our international rescue partners to speak out and oppose these new rules!

Click the link comment before Sept 8: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CDC-2023-0051-0001

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Ashley C. Altenburger, J.D.,

I’m an animal lover and am writing today to oppose the proposed ruling, “Control of Communicable Disease; Foreign Quarantine: Importation of Dogs and Cats.”

I support the CDC’s intention to protect the United States against additional rabies cases, however, I do not agree that hardening the rules on dog importation is the way to achieve this goal. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, there are approximately 5,000 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in the United States and the vast majority are found in wildlife. Why harden the rules on dog importation, especially for responsible non-profits and individuals?

Non-profit organizations in the United States and individuals go to extraordinary lengths to rescue dogs from wars and climate disasters around the world. We should not close our doors to this work but instead, continue to make it safe and feasible for it to continue. In 2020 dogs accounted for just 1% (36) of all rabies cases in the US. In the past eight years, there have only been 4 cases of rabies from imported dogs.

The new proposed laws are unclear and an overstep. They burden nonprofit rescue organizations and private individuals with extreme costs and requirements that are nearly impossible to achieve for those working in war-torn countries like Ukraine.

I strongly ask the agency to reconsider these proposed measures and refocus their efforts on rabies prevention to wildlife and livestock where regulations are truly needed to stop the disease in the United States.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Behind the scenes with #CBS3 and @stahlcbs3 . Our awesome adopters Nicole and Dan, their dogs Luna and Solei are joining us to speak out against the new CDC legislation that will ostensibly ban rescue dogs from Ukraine!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

CDC Proposes New Rules for Importing Dogs from "High-Risk" Countries

On July 10, 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed new rules for importing dogs from countries -- including Ukraine and Russia -- that are considered to have a high risk for dog rabies. These rules would be much more strict than the current regulations, creating significant hurdles for the dog rescue community.

View fullsize

The new rules would require "repetitive vaccinations, testing, and other costly mandates that will put Americans overseas at risk of losing their animals, and terribly complicate the work of US-based charities conducting international dog rescue," according to Animal Wellness Action, a US-based organization focused on preventing cruelty to animals. Their full response to the CDC's proposed regulations is available at this link.

Sochi Dogs is partnering with Animal Wellness Action and a coalition of US-based dog rescues to speak out against the proposed changes. As an alternative to the new rules, we are proposing that the CDC keep its current permit system in place. This system allows individuals to apply for a permit to import a specific dog if they can produce a positive titer test – a blood test that confirms that the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and has enough antibodies to prevent infection – from a CDC-approved lab. A CDC officer reviews all documentation before the dog’s arrival and, to guarantee public safety, the permit holder is required to re-vaccinate the dog within 10 days of the dog’s entry into the country. 

We also recommend 1) updating the permit system to allow rescue organizations registered as 50(c)3 nonprofits in the US to apply for permits and 2) eliminating the current two-dog limit for importers, which would enable permit holders to bring in more than two dogs during their lifetime. 

With these changes we can prevent the spread of rabies in the US while allowing rescue organizations to continue saving dogs like Lacey, a dog from Ukraine who survived the Battle of Irpin by hiding under a bridge. She is now living in Philadelphia where she loves to sleep in her comfy bed, go out on walks with her new family Erica and Kyle, and say hello to everyone she meets.  

The CDC is inviting public comments and feedback on the proposed rules until September 8, 2023. Stay tuned for more details about how you can help! 

View fullsize

Sochi Dogs stands against this war and with the Ukrainian people.

Sign a letter to the CDC asking for a temporary exception on the dog importation ban to allow US rescues to help dogs left behind in the war.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has people fleeing their homes. They are taking whatever companion animals they can but many are getting left behind. Shelters in Ukraine are overflowing and running out of food and supplies.

Please sign the letter and share! www.sochidogs.org/ukraine