High-Risk Countries · USA

Booking a US vet facility

Step-by-step: how to reserve a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF) when your dog is flying in from a high-risk rabies country — plus direct contacts for all 8 facilities.

Who this is for If your dog was physically in a high-risk rabies country (Ukraine and others) at any point in the 6 months before US entry, and its rabies vaccination was given outside the US ("foreign-vaccinated"), it can only enter the US through one of 8 airports with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility — and you need a paid reservation there before you fly. Service dogs (14 CFR 382.3) are exempt from the ACF reservation; emotional support animals are not.

Timeline

1
60+ days before travel

Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination — check the dates don't overlap. Vaccinate or booster if needed. Start your flight booking process, but don't lock in dates yet.

2
30+ days before travel

Draw blood for the rabies titer test — only at a CDC-approved lab. Blood must be taken at least 30 days after the first valid vaccination, and results must be ready at least 28 days before US entry.

Reserve and pay for your spot at the ACF in your entry airport (list below) — confirmation only comes after payment. Print the confirmation.

3
No more than 30 days before travel

Have your vet complete the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, endorsed by an official government vet. It's valid for 30 days and can only be used once.

4
Day of departure

Fill out the CDC Dog Import Form online — free, needs a photo and the microchip number. The email receipt is single-use and tied to your exact travel date and airport; if either changes, resubmit.

5
Arrival

You must land at the airport where your ACF reservation is — no domestic connections or ground travel before the facility clears the dog. Bring two copies of every document. The facility does a vet exam; without a valid titer, expect a 28-day quarantine (may be shortened in some cases). All costs are the owner's responsibility.

What to send the facility

The 8 CDC-registered facilities

Contacts as of September 2026 — double-check before booking, the list changes from time to time.

ATL
Dandie Scottie Kennel
HighRiskImports@petsconnectatl.com
DFW
DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine
reservation@dfwpetlounge.com
(817) 393-3315 · dfwpetlounge.com
LAX
Kennel Club LAX
Quarantine@kennelclublax.com
(213) 933-8935 · tailwindglobalpet.com/rabies-program
LAX
Rue's Kennels @ LAX
dogimportreservation@rueskennelsatlax.com
(310) 692-0843 · rueskennelsatlax.com
MIA
Pet Limo
QSMiami@petlimo.com
(305) 889-8908 · petlimo.com
JFK
The ARK Pet Oasis
info@arkjfk.com
arkjfk.com/acf-reservation-request-1
PHL
Gateway Animal Care Center
reservations@gatewayacc.com
(215) 516-5201 · gatewayacc.com
SEA
Dog Gone Taxi
info@doggonetaxi.com
doggonetaxi.com/seattle-animal-care-facilities
IAD
Pender Pet Retreat
acfreservations@penderpetretreat.com
(703) 537-7356 · penderpetretreat.com/acf-reservations

How to write the first email

Include: breed, age and weight; the country your dog is flying from and that it's high-risk; your planned travel date and airline (if known); whether you already have a titer result and its date; and ask for the reservation cost, what they need from you to confirm, and the payment deadline.

Facilities generally advise waiting for their confirmation before locking in flight tickets — a flexible fare is safer in case dates need to shift.

Complex route or tight timing?

If you'd rather go through your exact case together — dates, airport, documents — send me a DM or book a consultation.

DM @lunamudblood →