S502-118

What This Bill Does:
This bill, called the Healthy Dog Importation Act, makes changes to how live dogs are imported into the U.S. from other countries. Its main goal is to ensure that these dogs are healthy and properly vaccinated before they arrive.

Who Benefits and How:
- Dog Importers: They'll have clear guidelines on how to import dogs safely and legally.
- Pet Owners: You'll know that the dog you're bringing home has been checked for health issues and parasites.
- Veterinarians: They can help issue certificates confirming a dog's health status.

Who Bears the Burden and How:
- Dog Importers: They must follow new rules, including getting a certificate from a licensed vet showing the dog is healthy and vaccinated. They also need to pay fees for import permits.
- Importers who don't follow the rules: They'll face penalties and may have to cover costs for caring for, quarantining, or returning dogs that don't meet health standards.

Key Provisions:
- Importers must show a certificate from a licensed vet proving the dog is healthy and vaccinated.
- Dogs must be at least 6 months old unless they're going directly to Hawaii with certain conditions.
- There are exceptions for research purposes, veterinary treatment, or dogs under 6 months going to Hawaii.
- The bill sets fees for import permits to fund enforcement of these rules.
- Importers who don't follow the rules face penalties and may have to cover costs for caring for and returning unhealthy dogs.