A ban starting on July 14th is going to in effect to prevent dogs coming in from 100 countries where rabies is still an issue. There has been a spike in the number of puppies that were denied entry into the United States because they were too young to be vaccinated.

Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association said, we want to make sure we’re bringing healthy dogs into the country – especially if they are going to be pets,” said Kratt, a veterinarian in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The ban will take effect to all dogs coming into or returning into the country whether they are brought in for sale or for someone to adopt them. If someone goes to a foreign country, they won’t be able to bring their dog back to the United States in less that animal has spent six months in a country where there is a low risk for rabies.

Foreigners that are moving to the United States with their pets and Guide Dogs for the blind will be exempt from the ban. The concentration of dogs that were rejected was mostly from Ukraine, Russia, and Colombia.

However, the CDC said because the risk is exceedingly high from all countries, where rabies risk is remarkably high, the band will take place starting July 14th, 2021. Dogs coming in from those countries will need proof of rabies vaccination.

The ban applies to dogs coming into or returning to the country, including pets or those brought in for sale or adoption. For example, if an American couple took their dog to Belize, they wouldn’t be able to bring the dog back to the U.S. unless the dog first spends six months in a country that is not at a high risk for rabies.