Sponsors (12)
The bill strengthens biosecurity and outbreak detection for imported dogs by adding health screening, data-sharing, and fee-funded implementation, but it imposes new costs, paperwork, age restrictions, and transitional/privacy burdens on importers, rescues, and some adopters.
Pet owners, pets, and local public health officials — imported dogs will be screened for health, vaccinations, and parasites before arrival, reducing the risk of animal illness and zoonotic disease spread to U.S. pets and people.
State and local veterinarians and public‑health agencies — centralized electronic import records shared with State veterinarians within three days improve disease surveillance and speed public‑health responses to outbreaks.
Taxpayers and businesses involved in dog importation — authority to charge importer and transporter fees funds program implementation so screening and systems can be deployed without waiting on new appropriations.
Breeders, rescues, importers, and carriers — new electronic documentation, database, and permit requirements will create administrative burdens and could delay legitimate imports during implementation.
Importers, transporters, and purchasers/adopters — required fees and potential costs for quarantine, care, removal, or return will raise costs for businesses and likely be passed on to consumers or adopters.
Rescue organizations and families seeking to adopt puppies — a six‑month minimum age for dogs intended for transfer could block import of younger puppies for adoption or sale, limiting placement options.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds a new Animal Health Protection Act section that creates electronic prearrival documentation, permit, ID, age, data‑sharing, fee authority, and enforcement rules for importing live dogs.
Official title: To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 13, 2025 by Dustin Johnson · Last progress May 13, 2025
Creates a new federal framework for importing live dogs by adding a statutory section to the Animal Health Protection Act. It requires prearrival electronic documentation (health certificates, vaccination and parasite treatment records, negative test results, permanent ID, and import permits), sets a 6‑month minimum age for dogs intended for transfer, authorizes USDA to build an electronic submission and centralized database, establishes limited exceptions, permits fee collection to fund implementation, preserves current import rules until the new USDA rules are issued, and repeals the animal welfare act import provision it replaces.