Pet Travel Question: Importing a Dog to the US from Africa
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: ?
From: Togo, Africa
To: Boulder, Colorado, USA
My niece wants to bring a dog home from Togo to Colorado when she completes her two years in the Peace Corps. What vaccinations are required? What do I need to be worried about in terms of protecting my own dogs from strange or obscure diseases? I seriously doubt this dog has ever seen a veterinarian.
Thanks,
Shirley
Hi Shirley,
The United States actually has relatively relaxed rules when it comes to importing pets, but there are a few details to be aware of. Here are the US pet import requirements -- as you can see the dog will need a microchip and rabies vaccinations, and since she's coming from Togo your niece will also need to prove the dog is free of screwworm. Your vet might have more information about things to look out for as far as introducing the new dog to your own.
Thanks for your question, and please contact us if there's anything else you're wondering about. We wish your niece and her dog lots of luck!