Canada's decision to ban dogs from countries with high risk for rabies 'nonsensical,' advocates say

Animal rights advocatesin B.C. say a federal agency's decision to ban commercial dogs from countries with a high risk for rabiesis astep in the wrong direction, andmore regulation is needed instead toprotect animals and ensure public safety.

In a noticeon June 28, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFI)announced that commercial dogs dogs intended for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, exhibition and research from a list of about 100 countries that are at high risk for rabieswill be banned from entering Canada starting Sept. 28,regardless of whenimport permits were issued.

"This is heartbreaking," Rebecca Breder, a Vancouver-basedlawyer specializing in animal law, said on CBC's BC Today.

"It'll be a death sentence for literally thousands of dogs who desperately need loving homes and good health care."

Most of thecountries affectedare in Africa, Central and SouthAmerica, Asia,the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

CFI saidCanada does not have any active cases of "dog rabies,"a strain different from the rabies typically found in wildlife such as skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats.

But it says that last year, dogs with the diseasewere imported into Canada, andthe Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial health authorities have asked CFI to take action as a result.

"The importation of even onerabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets, and wildlife. If a person is exposed, they need to undergo serious medical treatment," the food inspection agencysaid.

'Quite heartbreaking'

Breder says she recognizes there are rescuers who are not doing their due diligence like veterinary checks, but a blanket ban without any consultation with animal welfare and rescue organizations is a "nonsensical"change.

"What concerns me with this ban right now is that the CFI is kind of wiping their hands clean," Breder said.

"There are quite a few irresponsible dog rescues who are homing dogs to homes who shouldn't have dogs to begin with."

She says regulation including quarantining,vet checks, andbehavioural assessments are needed to ensure the safety of both the dogs and families who will home them.

Chantel King, adog rescuer in Vancouver and mom to threedogs from India, said she had been makingplans to travel there next year, tovolunteer at a sanctuary run by theorganization that helped her rescue the dogs.

"It's quite heartbreaking to be honest," King said.

"Some of the rescuers that we've worked with do vaccine clinics and spay and neuter clinics ... so we are very disappointed to hear the news."