Transporting Dogs and CVIs

As most everyone knows, the transportation of commercial livestock across state lines is regulated to prevent the spread of disease. What is less well-known is that the transportation of pets (including dogs) across state lines is also regulated. Each state's regulations are determined by the state's department of agriculture. If you are traveling with your dog, you can look up the requirements for the state you are traveling into at the following website:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/state-to-state

Sometimes only a current rabies certificate is sufficient. Other times a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) - informally called a "health certificate" - is needed. Each state is different. For example, North Carolina (where I live) just requires a valid rabies certificate to bring a dog into the state. Missouri (where Purina Farms is located) requires a health certificate even if you are just bringing a dog into Missouri to show.

I have never seen guards at state borders checking for the proper paperwork for dogs entering the state. However if one was pulled over by a policeman for some reason, one could be asked to produce the paperwork (and you could be fined and your dog seized if you do not have it).

When I sell a puppy, a few days before the puppy leaves me, I take the puppy to my local vet and get a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI). This lets me demonstrate to puppy buyers that I am selling them a healthy puppy. It also often gives my buyers the necessary paperwork to legally travel with their new puppy. In the old days, this was just a note from my vet that the dog had been examined and was healthy. When I moved to North Carolina, I was informed that a USDA APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) form 7001 was required to be filled out and signed by my vet. This is what I have requested from my vet and used for many years.

Recently I learned that - because some bad actors were forging their vet's signature on the APHIS form 7001 - that many states are no longer accepting the paper APHIS form as proof of veterinary inspection. The following website has a map showing many of these states:

https://www.globalvetlink.com/blog/changes-in-small-animal-movement-documents/

Now what is recommended is an electronic CVI - this allows the paper copy of the certificate to be uniquely identified, electronically signed, and quickly checked and traced. One company - GlobalVetLink (globalvetlink.com) - seems to dominate the market for electronic CVIs. (Although searching on the web I was able to find other companies offering similar services). GlobalVetLink was the only company I was referred to when I contacted the department of agriculture of two states (my own and the state where one of my puppies is moving). I understand that GlobalVetLink's electronic CVIs are accepted in all 50 states.

To find a local veterinarian that uses GlobalVetLink's services, go to

https://user.globalvetlink.com/gvl2/find-a-vet

I had to scramble this time to get my puppy an electronic CVI. Hopefully things will be easier next time. And I hope this note makes things easier for anyone reading it.

Blair Kelly
Shaksper Norwich
14 Mar 2025