Screwworm Exposed Gaps In Pet Import Rules

THERE’S AN OLD QUIP that a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. In this post-COVID age, we all know diseases can also travel quickly. That’s why authorities took decisive action this summer to prevent the spread of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

You likely heard about screwworm cases affecting beef cattle in Texas, a major concern for ranchers. But cattle aren’t the only carriers — pets can spread it, too, and some states have acted accordingly. Florida issued emergency regulations prohibiting the importation of shelter animals from Texas and New Mexico. Vermont now requires shelter pets to be inspected for screwworm within five days of entering the state instead of the previous 30 days allowed for disease and parasite inspections.

“We don’t import a lot of cattle from Texas. What we import a lot of are cats and dogs through the rescue trade,” Vermont state veterinarian Kaitlynn Levine, DVM, told Vermont Public Radio. “We are very concerned that these cats and dogs who are being imported, often in very large groups, are going to be the largest risk for importation of New World screwworm into Vermont.”

Interstate movement of pets is vital to the pet industry — for breeders, rescues, competitions and more. Screwworm is a reminder of the need for sensible regulations that limit the risk of disease spreading through importation. A major outbreak, or an interruption to transport, would harm many businesses that rely on live animals.

A provision in this year’s proposed Farm Bill tackles this issue directly: The Healthy Dog Importation Act.

More than 1 million dogs are imported annually, and the past decade has seen diseases such as Asian dog flu enter the country this way. The act modernizes screening requirements and improves interagency communication between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Customs and Border Protection. It’s backed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers along with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Kennel Club and National Animal Interest Alliance.

But while the Healthy Dog Importation Act addresses foreign imports at the federal level, interstate transportation still needs work. Most states require certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) to be filed for pets, especially dogs, imported from other states. These records can help trace the source of a disease. But not all states require them, some don’t audit the ones they have on file, and some importers may not be filing the certificates at all.

At Pet Advocacy Network, we believe all pets deserve equal protection. State agencies need to have the right regulations as well as the resources to enforce them properly. Disease is not the only issue. Regulations for pet transport may vary — or be limited or nonexistent in some states.

We are working on model legislation to ensure the best protections for pets, regardless of their source. Got an opinion on the matter? We’d love to hear from you. Our policies are driven by members from across the pet industry. Join us at petadvocacy.org to get involved.