In September 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) banned the commercial import of dogs from more than 100 countries considered high-risk for canine rabies. At the time, the CFIA was responding to a case in 2021, when two rescue dogs from Iran were imported and later diagnosed with rabies. A rescue dog waits in a crate in Thailand en route to the United States. The CFIA also points out that the incubation period for rabies in dogs is six months, making quarantine difficult. Ottawa veterinarian Kelly Butler says ending the ban would mean a risk of rabies carried by rescue dogs entering Canada.

Source: CBC News April 05, 2026 18:32 UTC