New Federal Law Mandates 6-Month Minimum Age for Imported Dogs Sold or Adopted in the U.S.

The aptly named Healthy Dog Importation Act is setting up a whole new federal gatekeeping system for dogs coming into the country. This isn’t just about making sure Fido has his shots; it’s a major regulatory overhaul managed by the Secretary that aims to track every imported dog and ensure it meets specific health standards before it can be transferred (sold, adopted, or donated) here.

The New Paper Trail and the 6-Month Rule

Under this Act, you can’t just bring a dog across the border anymore. The rule now is that the Secretary must receive electronic proof that the dog is healthy, vaccinated, and treated for parasites, all certified by a recognized foreign vet. Every dog also needs a permanent, approved ID method. But here’s the kicker for anyone involved in dog rescue or commercial sales: any dog intended to be transferred after arrival must be at least six months old and requires a specific import permit (SEC. 2. ##### New Import Requirements). Think of it as a mandatory six-month waiting period before that puppy you rescued from overseas can find its forever home in the U.S. This restriction is going to significantly impact rescue operations that rely on importing younger dogs.

Who Pays for the Paperwork?

The bill gives the Secretary 18 months to finalize the regulations, but the implementation is already clear: the system is going to be self-funded. The Secretary has the authority to establish and charge “necessary fees” to cover the costs of all this new verification, permitting, and database management (SEC. 2. ##### Implementation Timeline and Regulations). For transporters and importers—whether they’re large organizations or small volunteer groups—this means new documentation requirements combined with new costs. If you’re a small rescue organization currently bringing in a few dogs a year, these new fees could become a substantial barrier.

Tracking Every Paw Print

To enforce the health standards, the Act mandates the creation of a central database to track every veterinary inspection certificate submitted by importers. This data must be shared with state veterinarians within three days if requested, significantly improving transparency and giving states better tools to monitor potential health risks (SEC. 2. ##### Implementation Timeline and Regulations). This is a clear win for public health and animal welfare advocates who want better accountability for where imported animals come from and their health status. However, the bill uses a very broad definition for Compensation, meaning anything of value received for handling a dog—including “good publicity.” This broad language could potentially allow the Secretary to apply these strict rules and fees to individuals or small groups doing non-commercial rescue work, depending on how aggressively the rules are written.

The End of the Old Rules

This entire system is replacing the previous standard found in Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act. While the old rules remain in place during the 18-month transition period, once the new regulations are finalized, the old law is officially repealed. The goal is to move from a patchwork system to one centralized, federally managed approach to dog importation, focusing heavily on electronic tracking and mandatory health compliance. While the improved health standards are a definite benefit, the new age restriction for transfer and the introduction of mandatory fees will be felt most acutely by the groups focused on dog adoption and rescue.