All puppies should be fully vaccinated (2-3 rounds, depending on the vaccine) by 4 months of age. This would include for rabies and Parvo. Most entities, including the regulatory FDA, approves the transport of puppies at 8 weeks. This is common practice in the USA. So the new regulations, effective August 1st, don't make a lot of sense, in terms of the AGE of animals being imported. That is a real problem for rescues which use airplanes to transport their animals. 8 week old puppies fit under the seat. 6 month old puppies likely may not. It is a real bummer for them. But the restrictions are even WORSE for countries who are considered to be high risk for rabies. The new regulations make it extremely difficult, and expensive, to import animals from countries like Afghanistan. My USA-based rescue participated last month in the incredible airlift of 300 dogs and cats from Afghanistan, planned to be executed before the new restrictions take place. Google it - it was an amazing effort! My small rescue was able to accept 6 dogs from KSAR (Kabul Small Animal Rescue). Scores of other USA rescues also participated in accepting 300 dogs and cats in total. Rescue is currently in crisis worldwide - a result of our emerging from the pandemic with too many dogs. Breeders overproduced and are 'releasing' their unwanted dogs into the rescue world, and people adopted when they were at home and now are surrendering very unsocialized animals as they go back to work. The new restrictions serve to only exacerbate an already overburdened rescue system.
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