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Rescue group that saves dogs from China meat trade joins fight against CDC ban on importing dogs

A new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that took effect July 14 has some animal rescue groups angry, desperate and trying to get exemptions. The order is intended to help keep rabies cases out of the U.S. by banning anyone from bringing in dogs from 113 countries classified as high-risk.

A U.S. nonprofit that rescues dogs from the China meat trade says the CDC’s order will guarantee the deaths of millions of dogs. China Rescue Dogs has brought more than 600 dogs from China to the U.S. in the past two years.

Director Jill Stewart started the nonprofit after seeing firsthand what happens in China’s dog meat industry.

“Every day we are rescuing animals from the slaughterhouses and the meat trade in China,” Stewart said. “We have a lot of golden retrievers, poodles, labradors, malamutes, huskies...these are all dogs that are overbred in China; and once they’re done, they put them on the slaughter trucks.”

Stewart’s group has rescue partners in China who help to save dogs destined for slaughter. Stewart said many of those partners work in secret out of necessity. Boston 25′s sister station WSOC spoke by phone with one rescuer in Wuhan. ‘Fita’ said that while many westerners may not realize it, dog meat is popular with a lot of people in China.

“They enjoy eating dog meat because they believe dog meat can keep them warm, make them stronger, you know, so there are a lot of dog meat restaurants in China,” Fita explained.

The new CDC order will prevent groups like China Rescue Dogs from bringing dogs into the U.S. It orders, “a temporary suspension for dogs imported from countries the CDC considers high risk for dog rabies.” The ban applies to 113 countries, including China, India, Russia, Egypt, Kenya, Haiti and Honduras.

The CDC states the move is “to ensure the health and safety” of those dogs and to protect the public against “the reintroduction of canine rabies.” It follows an incident last month involving a group of 33 dogs brought to the U.S. from Azerbaijan by a rescue group. One of the dogs subsequently tested positive for rabies, which the CDC said was eradicated in the U.S. in 2007.

In addition, the CDC stated that, in 2020, more than 450 dogs from high-risk countries arrived in the U.S. with “incomplete, inadequate or fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates.” Stewart said her group always vaccinates and thoroughly documents the dogs they bring to the U.S.

“Once we get them in our possession, we immediately take them to a vet where they’re quarantined for 30 days and their vaccinations are given,” she said. “What we are asking for is an exemption [to the CDC order]. We are doing everything right.”

The CDC issued a statement, saying “rescue or adopted dogs from high-risk countries are not eligible for importation or a permit. There are no plans to allow for exemptions.”

China Rescue Dogs has joined other animal rescue groups to form a coalition asking the CDC to reconsider the order and provide an exemption. They’re also encouraging supporters to contact their senators and Congressional representatives and ask them to pressure the CDC to change course.

“These are animals that have no rights. We are the voice for the voiceless,” Stewart said. “Without rescues like ours and nonprofits helping and assisting and finding loving homes in our country, they don’t have a chance.”

To learn more about Stewart and her rescue group, go to chinarescuedogs.org.