The last flight of internationally rescued golden retrievers landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport before a new policy which will prohibit the importation of dogs over 100 countries at the end of the month.
At Pearson, emotions ran high as the dogs met their new owners for the first time.
“We’ve had two previous rescues and it’s a great life for them and a great life for us,” said Lou Vanderploge, who was among more than 40 families who adopted the dogs.
The golden retrievers were rescued from shelters in Cairo, Egypt and brought to Canada by the non-profit organization. golden ransom.
The group has rescued more than 1,700 dogs from abroad, but this is its last international rescue amid the new policy, put in place by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (ACIA).
“It would have been nice if the CFIA had gone in and reviewed our policies and procedures,” said Dr. Scott Bainbridge, a veterinarian and Golden Rescue board member. “After bringing in more than 1,700 dogs, we have never brought in a rabid dog.”
The agency says that beginning September 28, which is World Rabies Day, commercial dogs from countries it considers to be at high risk for canine rabies will be banned.
The CFIA defines “commercial dogs” as those for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition, research, and other purposes.
Egypt and Turkey are on the list, which are the two countries that Golden Rescue imports dogs for adoption.
Since learning of the ban in June, the group has worked to bring 130 bailouts to Canada.
“There are thousands of dogs in the shelter system, it’s a matter of life and death, the conditions, the medical care are not great,” said Dr. Bainbridge.
The agency says the ban is necessary to reduce the risk of canine rabies entering Canada, which poses a serious health risk to Canadians and their pets and, once symptoms appear in humans, the disease it is almost always fatal.
According to the CFIA, two dogs from Iran were imported into Canada with the disease. Canada does not currently have any confirmed cases of canine rabies.
“The importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets, and wildlife,” the agency stated in a public notice published in June.
“We are heartbroken by the CFIA’s decision, and beyond disappointed that the CFIA did not contact the rescue community prior to making the decision to impose the ban,” said Viive Tamm, Chairman of the Board of Golden Rescue.
“If they had, we would have been able to alleviate their concerns about the possibility of importing rabies into Canada.”
Animal rights advocates and rescue groups are asking for waivers or modifications to the new measure so they can continue their rescue efforts while keeping the public and pets safe.
“We are strict with the vaccination protocol, in fact we test the rabies titers before they arrive to show that if they were exposed to rabies, they would be protected,” said Dr. Bainbridge.
When asked about possible exemptions, a CFIA spokesperson said: “The CFIA has developed an approach that is relevant and proportionate to current public health risks to animals and people, and takes into account issues such as the CFIA’s regulatory framework and infrastructure, including quarantine facilities at points of entry.”
Unless there are waivers, Golden Rescue says it will focus its efforts on Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.