WASHINGTON — Six-year-old “Luca” is a tail wagging resident of Alexandria, Va. But, his journey to the DC metro area began 1,200 miles away in Turks and Caicos, where he was once an island dog or “potcake.”

What You Need To Know

  • New CDC rules on importing dogs to the U.S. take effect Aug. 1
     
  • Potcake Place K-9 Rescue in Turks and Caicos says new age requirements will negatively impact adoptions

  • The CDC says the changes are to “prevent the re-introduction of dog rabies.” Turks and Caicos is considered a rabies-free/low risk country. 

His owner Melissa Corradetti was on vacation when they first met in 2018.

"My friend sent me an article when we were researching things to do and found that there was a rescue there that offered puppy socialization walks, where you could take a puppy out for a walk on the beach, and I was immediately drawn in," she said. 

The rescue is called Potcake Place. It adopts out 400 to 500 dogs a year, mostly to Americans like Corradetti. 

"(I) took him out for a walk, went on the beach, did all of the beach things," she said. "It was amazing. And, then we went and had some drinks … He curled up at my feet and drank his water while I drank my cocktails. And I immediately was like, 'This is my dog.'"

Corradetti said Luca was about 12 weeks old, and about 18-20 pounds when he flew home on a commercial plane with her in the cabin. 

But, upcoming changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rules on importing dogs into the U.S. from rabies free or low-risk countries like Turks and Caicos are set to change Aug. 1, and will require dogs to be at least six months old. 

Critics of the adjustment say this will make it much more difficult to get dogs adopted, because of size rules for dogs on commercial airlines. 

"The pup has to be under 20 pounds to get carried on," said Potcake Place K-9 Rescue Founder Jane Parker-Rauw. "So, the only way we can get a 6-month-old dog off the island is on a private jet, which unfortunately ... I don't have one."

The CDC says it’s aiming to “prevent the re-introduction of dog rabies” to the U.S. While the six-month age requirement is already in place for dogs coming from high-risk countries, a statement from the CDC spokesperson says: “The updated regulation, effective August 1, makes this requirement consistent for all dogs entering the United States.”

“All dogs must be at least 3 months (old) to receive a rabies vaccine, and that vaccine takes approximately 28 days (a month) to become fully effective," it continued. "If a blood titer (blood test for rabies) is needed for the dog’s entry, it must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination AND 28 days before entry."

Corradetti said the changes will have negative impacts on dog like Luca. 

"The unfortunate thing is that this is going to really inhibit the ability for rescues to get dogs out of places like the Caribbean, because it's too hot for them to fly cargo, so they can't leave the island any other way," she said. "And these organizations are trying to get them out using tourists. There are a lot of Americans that go on vacation and fall in love with these dogs."

The full list of rules effective Aug. 1 can be found on the CDC's website.