If you’re planning on taking the family puppy north for a quick Canada visit this summer, be careful: Regulations about rabies vaccination will change Aug. 1 and you might have trouble getting Fido back into the U.S.

The changes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are spurred by concerns about dogs, in particular rescue dogs, bringing rabies into the country because they are not fully vaccinated and their paperwork is incorrect or forged. Responding to a query from the Monitor, the American Kennel Club confirmed that the rules apply even to dogs that have only been out of the country for a day trip.

The new rules have a number of requirements, including:

■Dogs must be at least six months old to enter the U.S. Because immune systems have not fully developed in younger dogs and they can’t yet receive a full series of vaccines and boosters, young puppies are easily infected.

■Owners must have documentation about valid rabies vaccination and must have filled out a CDC Dog Import Form that includes “a clear photograph of the dog showing its face and body.” Dogs younger than one “should have the photograph taken within 10 days before arrival,” says the CDC. This is designed to ensure that the paperwork applies to the dog who is crossing the border. 

■Dogs must also have an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip to enter or re-enter the country.

For details about the new requirements, see the CDC website.

Rules are stricter when bringing a dog into the U.S. from 113 countries designated as at high risk for rabies. Neither Canada nor Mexico are on the list but several Caribbean and Central American countries are.

The changes come in response to an increase in the international movement of dogs and other pets, with a sharp increase in importation of pets happening during the pandemic. The U.S. imports an estimated 1 million dogs each year. 

Rabies was eliminated in dogs in the U.S. in 2007, but unvaccinated dogs can contract the disease from rabid wildlife such as raccoons, skunks or bats. Rabies is one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, killing about 59,000 people each year. The illness is nearly always fatal once symptoms begin.

CDC says that in the first year of the pandemic, it saw a 52% increase in the number of dogs ineligible for admission into the U.S. due to falsified or fraudulent documentation. The CDC cited several cases of rabies-positive dogs being imported into the U.S. on behalf of animal rescue groups that had falsified documentation.

“This updated regulation will allow us to continue bringing dogs to the U.S. safely and efficiently,” Lori Kalef, director of programs for SPCA International, said in a statement.

The American Kennel Club applauded the effort but said in a statement that it felt the new ruling was “overly broad and disparately impacts purebred dog enthusiasts who import a personal animal or collaborate internationally, or dog event competitors that travel internationally.”