BUFFALO, N.Y. — Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy introduced the Border-Crossing and Re-Entry for K9s Act, or the BARK Act, for short.
He worked with Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy as well as other lawmakers on a letter earlier this year urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end some of the initial restrictions.
Right now the rules are the dog must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip, and have a CDC dog import form. It aims at permanently pausing CDC rules for dogs crossing the U.S.-Canada border.
Kennedy says that the CDC guidelines that went into effect on Aug. 1 will cause major backups at the border and causes dog owners to jump through burdensome hoops to travel with their pets.
He mentioned that both the United States and Canada do not pose a threat to each other when it comes to dog rabies.
Kennedy is also worried about how wait times at the border could effect the economy in the cities and towns that the bridges connect.
"Pet owners and non-pet owners a like that cross the border regularly from the US and from Canada are saying that wait times will increase, regulations haven't been communicated properly, and that there is confusion," Kennedy said. "All of that adds up to people who are going to make determinations not to cross the border, which is bad for commerce in Western New York, in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and in Canada."
Dog owners and trainers are also speaking out on the new rules. Thom Igiel is a dog trainer at Western Lakes Training Club.
"We also have Canadian members who actually come across the border three or four times a week to work and train their dogs at our club in Kenmore," Igiel said.
Igiel also mentioned that one of the best veterinary hospitals in the area is in Canada, so having to take the time to fill out paperwork could be dangerous.
"When you have a critical care need for a dog, you don't want to worry about filling out paperwork, because by the time you get that paperwork filled out, something could happen to your animal," Igiel said.
You can find the CDC form required to travel, here.