Animal rights advocates are criticizing a new Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) policy that will ban the importation of dogs from more than 100 countries.
The agency Announced will ban the entry of commercial dogs from countries it considers to be at high risk for canine rabies beginning on September 28, which is World Rabies Day. The agency says the ban is necessary to reduce the risk of canine rabies entering Canada and defines “commercial dogs” as dogs for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, display or exhibition, research and other purposes.
“Canada does not currently have any active cases of canine rabies, a strain that is different from the rabies normally found in wildlife… However, in 2021, dogs were imported into Canada with this disease,” the agency explained. in an advisory published June 28. “Importation of a single rabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets and wildlife.”
Countries named by the CFIA as high risk include Ukraine and Afghanistan, which have been severely affected by wars; and the Philippines and China, where dogs are at risk of being sold into the meat trade.
Animal Justice, a Canadian animal protection group, argues that the ban will prevent the rescue of vulnerable dogs in these countries by organizations and individuals in Canada.
“Many Canadians are eager to adopt dogs, but this blanket ban will condemn thousands of dogs to languish on the streets or die in overcrowded shelters rather than find loving homes in Canada,” said Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, in a statement. Press release
The group has released a petition calling on the CFIA to create an exemption for animal rescues and humanitarian efforts that would allow adoptable animals into Canada. The United States Centers for Disease Control added a similar exemption to its own dog import policy in June, and now welcomes dogs from high-risk countries as long as they meet certain vaccination and quarantine criteria.
In its petition, Animal Justice alleges that the CFIA failed to consult with Canadian dog rescue agencies before announcing the ban and says that some of these groups are at risk of closing if they can no longer facilitate international rescues.
One such group, Save a Friend, works with an organization in Colombia to fund medical care and find homes for dogs saved from the streets and high-kill shelters there. It relies on adoption fees and donations to operate.
“It is shocking that the CFIA has not consulted with the dog rescue community before implementing this sweeping ban, which may force many organizations out of business,” Roxanne Yanofsky, director of the organization, said in a press release. “The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already serious situation in Colombia for animals, and if this policy does not change, dogs will suffer and die in even greater numbers.”
CTV News has reached out to the CFIA for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.