U.S. authorities have recently updated the rules on dogs entering the country, so as a reminder, there are new requirements for bringing a dog to the USA from 1 August 2024. What you will need to do will depend on where your dog has lived for the past 6 months.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has simplified the rules for importing dogs from countries that are free of or at very low risk of canine rabies. Lithuania is also in the latter group.

If your dog has only been in countries with a low risk of rabies in the last 6 months, you will need to fill in a special form for importing a dog prepared by the CDC. It is easy and takes a few minutes. This form must be filled in by those who are bringing the dog to the USA (this can be the owner, the importer or the shipper). The form and instructions on how to complete it are available online at the CDC website.

It is very important to ensure the following:

• The dog must be healthy when it enters the U.S.

• It must be at least 6 months old.

• The dog must have a subcutaneous microchip that can be read by a special device.

• Also, airlines or US border control may ask for proof that your dog has lived in a rabies-free or low-risk country for the past 6 months.

In this case, we recommend that you contact the VVM for a certificate and other documents to confirm the age of the dog and its microchip marking.