Traveling abroad with your dog? What to know to get Fido back to the U.S.

Traveling back and forth to the U.S with your furry best friend is about to become more difficult.

Starting Aug. 1, dogs will be required to meet new health standards before they can enter or return to the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control. If a dog fails to meet these standards − which were established to prevent the spread of rabies and other diseases − its entry into the country will be denied or delayed.

The new health requirements also apply to dogs from the U.S that have traveled to Canada for any length of time, including day trips.

If you plan to enter or return to the U.S with your dog after July 31, the dog must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least six months old.
• Must have been microchipped prior to receiving its most recent rabies vaccine, or else a booster is needed.
• Must have either a rabies certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian or a USDA-endorsed health certificate. Accredited veterinarians can be found on the U.S Department of Agriculture website.
• Must appear healthy. If the dog does not, it may have to undergo isolation, examination and testing at the owner's expense.
• Must have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The form, which is free, should preferably be filled out two to 10 days before visiting or returning to the U.S, but it can also be filled out at the border if the owner has internet access. The form also needs to include a clear photo displaying the dog's face and body. Dogs that are younger than one years old must have their picture within 10 days of their arrival.

For more information, visit the CDC's 'Dogs' webpage.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.