Estimating spatial and temporal trends of dog importation into Canada from 2013 to 2019.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: For several years, there has been growing concern over the public and animal health impacts of dog importation, with many Canadian veterinarians reporting increasing diagnoses of exotic pests and pathogens. This study is the first to estimate the number of dogs imported into Canada and describe spatial and temporal trends. ANIMAL AND PROCEDURE: Commercial and a subset of personal dog importation records, obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency, were used to estimate the total number of dogs imported into Canada from 2013 to 2019. RESULTS: The number of dogs imported annually increased by > 400% over the study period, with > 37 000 dogs imported in 2019. The majority of dogs (72%) were imported from the United States and Eastern Europe, and 23% originated in a country considered high-risk for canine rabies. CONCLUSION: Dog importation into Canada has increased substantially over time. Moving forward, education and improved tracking will be essential.