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441-01527 (Animals)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled

Whereas:

  • On September 28, 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced a new policy that prohibits the entry of commercial dogs, which includes adoption and fostering, from specific countries who are deemed at high-risk for rabies;
  • There are over 100 countries listed where these dogs are prohibited from entering Canada, including Ukraine and Afghanistan, where humanitarian crises are occurring, and the Philippines and China where rescuers are saving animals from the dog meat trade;
  • Animal advocacy groups have said that rescues were not consulted on this plan and it came as a shock. International rescue organizations have had to shut down their operations, unnecessarily causing dogs to suffer and die. Public consultation and stakeholder engagement is needed;
  • Other measures to ensure public safety such as adequate vaccination, blood antibody testing, and quarantine have been proven to be effective. Rabies is 100% preventable thanks to appropriate vaccines that are available;
  • No other western jurisdictions have banned international dog rescue entirely;
  • At a minimum, Canada's policy should match the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regulations on the entry of dogs, which allows dogs into the country with appropriate safeguards;
  • Many Canadians adopt and rescue dogs from overseas. This change could lead to more dogs in shelters or on the street globally and could exacerbate Canada's puppy mill crisis; and
  • Keeping Canadians and their pets safe, while also working with rescues and advocates is important.

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to work with affected dog rescues and animal rights advocates to ensure government policy on dog importations keeps Canadians safe, without increasing the number of animals in shelters or on the streets globally.

Response by the Minister of Health

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Adam Van Koeverden

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for regulating the importation of animals into Canada to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases, such as rabies caused by canine-variant viruses (dog rabies), that have the potential to harm animal and human health.

We love all dogs and to protect them as well as Canadians from dog rabies, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) implemented a measure to prohibit the entry of commercial dogs from countries at high-risk for dog rabies. Since September 28, 2022, the entry of all commercial dogs into Canada from countries considered to be high risk for dog rabies is no longer permitted, regardless of their age. Commercial dogs can include (but are not limited to) dogs for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition, research and other purposes.

This measure was implemented in response to the importation of dogs infected with dog rabies, and resulting calls from federal and provincial public health officials to strengthen importation measures in Canada for dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies. The CFIA consulted with public health authorities regarding the human health risk and it was determined to be significant enough to warrant the implementation of a measure that helps mitigate the introduction and spread of dog rabies to Canada.

While rabies exists in some wild species, Canada does not have dog rabies, a virus that can be transmitted between mammals, including humans. Rabies is 99% fatal to animals and humans once they start to show signs or symptoms. Our government aims to preserve this status.

Dog rabies can be introduced into Canada through imports that come from over 100 countries where this deadly disease is present. The importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to Canadian humans, pets and wildlife. In past years, commercial dog imports have increased significantly and shipments of dogs arriving from countries with widespread dog rabies pose a high risk of introducing this disease in Canada.

It is very difficult to verify if an imported dog has been infected with dog rabies or protected from this disease prior to importation due to the long incubation period of the disease as well as the limits of laboratory testing.

The incubation period for rabies is highly variable and depends on many factors. The majority of infected animals will develop the disease within six months of exposure. The infective period can start before the appearance of clinical signs (e.g., dogs can shed the virus 10 days before the onset of the disease) and last until death. As such, a dog may unknowingly be imported with the disease, even if it was vaccinated prior to importation. Imported dogs cannot be tested for rabies as the internationally accepted standard for testing for rabies involves sampling brain tissue, which requires that the animal be euthanized.

Vaccinating dogs for rabies prior to importation is important, but it does not ensure that the animal is not infected on arrival. To be effective, rabies vaccines must be manufactured in accordance with standards established by the World Organisation for Animal Health, stored at the correct temperature and administered to healthy animals according to established protocols (e.g., given when the animal is old enough). Should any of these steps fail, vaccination may not be fully protective. It is difficult to verify that these parameters have been adhered to prior to the importation of dogs. Vaccinating a dog after it is exposed to rabies, does not prevent the disease.

When used in combination with other measures, the rabies titre test (also called rabies neutralizing antibody titre) is a useful tool to help mitigate the risk of importing a dog with rabies. However, in the absence of an appropriate waiting period after the test is performed, the results cannot be used to determine whether a dog has been adequately vaccinated and/or protected against rabies. Many countries require a waiting period of at least three months (and even up to six months) after the test before any dog can be imported to allow time for clinical signs to develop in case the animal had been infected. Lastly, it is important to remember that rabies titre testing is not a diagnostic or screening test for rabies exposure; rather, it helps to evaluate whether or not the animal’s immune system has mounted an acceptable response to vaccination.

While post-import quarantines can also be a useful tool in certain situations and for certain diseases, the internationally accepted incubation period for rabies in dogs is six months, but can be longer in some cases; therefore, a prolonged quarantine period after importation would be required to mitigate the risks. As such, quarantining imported dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies creates an opportunity for a rabid dog to be brought to Canada, potentially exposing people (e.g., airline workers, caregivers, etc.) to a serious and fatal disease.

Additionally, because this is a zoonotic disease, an approved and appropriate quarantine facility would be required, the handling of animals in a quarantine facility would be limited, trained and verified caregivers would be required to wear personal protective equipment and contact with other animals would not be permitted. A prolonged quarantine period would be logistically challenging, expensive for the importer and detrimental to the welfare of the animal.

The CFIA collaborated with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to classify countries according to risk of dog rabies. The methodology used by the CDC was evaluated by the CFIA and found to be scientifically sound and appropriate to be used by the CFIA for the implementation of this measure. While Canada and the U.S. have identified the same countries to be of high risk for dog rabies, the two countries have different legal authorities and, therefore, have implemented different import measures.

The CFIA will continue to explore options for long-term solutions for dog imports that will allow the CFIA to address evolving disease risks in a sustainable, risk-based manner, using a One Health approach that is consistent with international standards. The CFIA is committed to continuing to develop approaches that keep the Canadian public and animals safe, and prevent the introduction and spread of diseases into Canada. We are committed to minimizing the risk of dog rabies to animals and people in Canada to ensure their health and safety.

Response by the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): PAM DAMOFF, M.P.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for establishing the policies regarding the importation of live animals, including dogs into Canada under the Health of Animals Act and Health of Animals Regulations. The CBSA administers and enforces these policies at the border.

On September 28, 2022, the CFIA implemented Notice to industry: New measure prohibiting the entry of commercial dogs from countries at high-risk for dog rabies, the new import restrictions banning all commercial dogs from high risk rabies countries (approximately 112 countries) from being imported into Canada. These restrictions are in effect at international airports in Canada.

The CBSA administers these requirements on behalf of CFIA as part of our overall enforcement mandate under the Canada Border Services Agency act.

Presented to the House of Commons
Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre)
June 9, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01527)
Government response tabled
August 16, 2023
Photo - Mike Morrice
Kitchener Centre
Green Party Caucus
Ontario

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.