The planned change, set to take effect Aug. 1, had been met with backlash.
The update, announced Monday, means dogs coming from rabies-free or low-risk countries specifically will not require documents filled in by veterinarians as originally planned.
The earlier version of the rules, set to take effect on Aug. 1, would have required, among other things, that all owners provide a government-issued rabies and microchip certification form filled out by a veterinarian. The form would have been valid for varying periods of time depending on if and where the dog was vaccinated against rabies — in some cases, it would only have been valid for 30 days and for a single entry into the U.S.
The planned change was met with backlash from citizens, veterinarians and the tourism industry in Canada — a country that is not high risk for dog rabies.
In a statement on its webpage on Monday, the CDC said it “values the feedback received from various countries, industry partners, and the public” about the rules.
Anyone who brings a dog into the U.S. is required to fill out the form. Each dog must have its own form. They can be filled out on the day of travel, but the CDC recommends filling it in a few days or up to six months before travel “just to be prepared.”
The receipt can be printed or shown on a phone to a U.S. customs official.