States Requiring Rabies Certificates

[Lily&Me]

We have been in the New England States the past couple of months and have come across a number of campgrounds requesting paperwork documenting that Lily's rabies vaccinations are up to date.

With a current tag on her collar, and not carrying the paperwork with us, we have been able to slide by.

We are now in upstate New York and advised yesterday that visual inspection of the paperwork is required by New York law. We had to call our vet to fax it to them.

This seems to be a trend out here, not something we have encountered before.

So, a head's up for other pet owners. We will be carrying paperwork with us after this.


Maggie

[Len n Jeanne]

Because we cross the US/Canadian border frequently, we just keep the dog's vet records in the truck all the time. Thanks for the tip on the RV parks, though. One in Idaho that we stay at once or twice a year does ask what breed of dog we have. Ours is a red heeler/German shepherd mix, and they almost wouldn't let us in once because of the shepherd part. Now I just say she's a mutt; and she looks more heeler than shepherd.

[DKB_SATX]

Because Texas state parks *technically* require that documentation, I carry a copy for both dogs in the console of the truck, in a folder where I put routes and checklists for the trip. I leave the folder and the shot records in the truck all the time.

I've never once been asked for them. The first few times I took them in with me when checking in, now I just leave them in the truck.

[Lily&Me]

We are frequently asked the breed of dog we have, and it is not uncommon for campgrounds to exclude certain breeds.

Lily had a rather expensive exam and certification last year, when we went to Waterton Glacier, then the guard at the border crossing didn't even want to see it. We told him we had it with us, and that was enough.



Maggie

[interstateflyer]

We carry our dogs' shot records in the truck. Haven't yet been asked for them in Western states.

We stayed at Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, Ca. Their ground rules (given at check-in) state that "Aggressive breeds such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are not permitted".

[jcanavera]

We've never been asked but we keep our paperwork with us for both of our dogs, just in case.

Jack

[Stefrobrts]

Interesting, we have never been asked, and our dogs don't wear tags on their collars because they kept getting them caught on stuff. They do have flat tags attached to the collar with name and phone numbers.

Recently animal control has been hanging around the dog parks doing spot inspections on people using the parks for both county license and rabies tags, so I had to get new tags for them, and I'll keep them on their leashes. I guess that's a good reminder to make sure we have tags and paperwork when we go on trips, just in case.

[Lily&Me]

I suspect there was a disaster with a un-immunized dog in a campground.

So often that is what precedes seemingly inane requirements.


Maggie

[Ahab]

Never been asked to see the documents no matter where we were including Canada and Mexico back and forth. Have had people check the tags to see if they were current.

(only place that wanted documentation was Camp Bow-Wow)

[ROBERT CROSS]

Being a NYS'r and dog show'r we are used to keeping all pet records with us and current.

We have been asked at some DEC CG's.

Bob

[Ntex]

There are campgrounds near us here in Austin that exclude certain breeds. I called one up to get better information than was on their website and to see whether my Shepard/lab mix would be allowed. They said my dog wasn't allowed unless I could say it was a "lab mix" and that if it looked like a shephard that would be a problem. They claimed it was a requirement of their insurance carrier! While it makes sense to me that an insurance policy might have that type of requirement, it is curious why other parks don't have the restriction ( thank goodness. ) i suppose they just have a different insurance policy?

[Len n Jeanne]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

We are frequently asked the breed of dog we have, and it is not uncommon for campgrounds to exclude certain breeds.

Lily had a rather expensive exam and certification last year, when we went to Waterton Glacier, then the guard at the border crossing didn't even want to see it. We told him we had it with us, and that was enough.



Maggie

We're seldom asked, either-- and when we have been, they usually don't even care to look at it. But it's in the truck just in case.

Did you get the border guard with dog biscuits?

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

Did you get the border guard with dog biscuits?

I don't think so.

I remember our first time into Canada in probably 2008 (we were such newbies), I offered a biscuit to one of the large German Shepherds sniffing around our rig and the handler wouldn't let him have it.

Now, seriously, do we look like people who would poison a dog?

I'm sure it has to be a never, ever thing. You never know who might be coming thru,


Maggie

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

I don't think so.

I remember our first time into Canada in probably 2008 (we were such newbies), I offered a biscuit to one of the large German Shepherds sniffing around our rig and the handler wouldn't let him have it.

Now, seriously, do we look like people who would poison a dog?

I'm sure it has to be a never, ever thing. You never know who might be coming thru,


Maggie

It's probably a training issue as well as a security issue... not wanting the dog to think of anyone but its handler as a source of treats.

I had never even imagined someone poisoning a sniffer dog, but I'm sure there are dirtbags who'd do it. I read today about this despicable pile of filth sentenced to 5 years for killing 2 dogs of his former employer. I hope his prison is full of dog lovers.

[Len n Jeanne]

We've had border guards in BC/AB offer us more dog biscuits than requests for the rabies certificate. These are small town border crossings. Dunno if this would happen in Detroit. The dog biscuit offers are about equal to the inspections of the Bambi, which we think are more out of curiosity than customs concerns.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

I don't think so.

I remember our first time into Canada in probably 2008 (we were such newbies), I offered a biscuit to one of the large German Shepherds sniffing around our rig and the handler wouldn't let him have it.

Now, seriously, do we look like people who would poison a dog?

I'm sure it has to be a never, ever thing. You never know who might be coming thru,


Maggie

Try not to be offended and think about this:

There are lot of reasons for a dog or cat owner not to want their pet to take or be offered food from strangers besides poisoning. I do not want any dog or cat of mine eating any food that I do not know the origin of and/or does not come from us. It doesn't matter what you look like.

In this case, the dog is a highly trained dog who is doing its job. It should be obvious to anyone that, since its reward for discovering what it is trained to look for is most likely a dog treat of some kind, offering him a treat just for the heck of it is counterproductive to his job performance.

Did you offer the border crossing human workers a candy bar?

There is no reason to be offended by someone not wanting their pets or their children for that matter to receive food from strangers, no matter what the stranger looks like.

What does a person who poisons dogs look like?

Ken

[Lily&Me]

Ken,

I was kidding, really.....not offended in the least.

I understood, and understand when it happens other places.



Maggie

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by doug&maggie

Ken,

I was kidding, really.....not offended in the least.

I understood, and understand when it happens other places.



Maggie

I was kidding too.

I don't really have a dog. It was one of our cats in a dog suit.

However, I'm sure she would eat a dog treat.

Ken

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

I was kidding too.

I don't really have a dog. It was one of our cats in a dog suit.

However, I'm sure she would eat a dog treat.

Ken

Maggie

[xrvr]

If you ever need to board an animal during a trip, then papers would be needed. Happened to us in Key West just for a day stay at a kennel. Jim