New Rules on Boat Dogs Begin August 1

Before taking your beloved pooch cruising in Mexico, make sure right now that Fido’s old microchip ID implant complies with the latest version of microchip, and that you have completed Fido’ new CDC version of doggy paperwork. Compliance can take several days and require at least one trip to your dog’s U.S. veterinarian’s office, all to be finalized before you depart the U.S. Otherwise, you might not be allowed to bring Fido back into the U.S. with you! Yikes! The U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued these new canine requirements last month. They affect ALL dogs entering the U.S., and they will go into effect on August 1, 2024. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/dogtravel As many of 350 U.S. West Coast recreational vessels can be expected to have at least one pet dog onboard as they head south this fall, based on past years’ casual surveys of recreational boaters. Southbound boaters can easily comply with the CDC’s new rules, but they should do so well before they actually cross the line in the water between California and Baja California Norte. EVEN FIDO? Yes, these new rules affect all privately owned dogs, even your beloved old Fido that you of course plan to...