CDC-registered animal care facilities for dogs, and which airport to use

In short

• An animal care facility (ACF) is a private kennel registered with CDC, at a US international airport. It examines and revaccinates foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
• Only foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country need one. Low-risk and properly documented US-vaccinated dogs can use any airport.
• Your dog must land on a direct international flight at the facility’s own airport: JFK means JFK, not Newark or LaGuardia.
• You pay the facility. Prices are not published by CDC and vary: ask each facility.
• Some facilities only accept dogs as cargo. There is no facility in Alaska, Hawaii or the US territories.

What an animal care facility does

An animal care facility (ACF) is a private business, usually a kennel or pet transport company, that CDC has registered to receive certain imported dogs. It works next to an international airport.

When a dog on the foreign-vaccinated pathway arrives, the facility:

1. takes charge of the dog after it lands;
2. has a vet examine it;
3. gives it a US-licensed rabies booster;
4. keeps it for a 28-day quarantine after that booster if the dog does not have a valid titer test (a blood test that measures rabies antibodies);
5. releases the dog to you once everything is done.

If the dog looks sick, CDC may ask for more tests or treatment, and a sick dog can be refused entry.

Does your dog need one?

So for most travelers, the facility question does not arise. It matters for families coming from countries like Brazil, Colombia, India or the Philippines with a dog vaccinated there, and for US dogs that left without the USDA-endorsed certification. See foreign-vaccinated dogs.

The registered facilities

This is the CDC list of registered facilities and their airports. Each facility also lists its own booking method on its website. To find one by airport, with emails and phone numbers, use the animal care facilities map.

Airport traps

The airport is where most plans go wrong. Your dog’s flight, your CDC receipt and your facility reservation must all name the same airport.

New York: JFK only

The New York facility serves JFK only. A dog landing at Newark (EWR) or LaGuardia (LGA) cannot use it, even though those airports are close. Book a flight that lands at JFK.

Dallas: DFW only

The Dallas facility requires arrival at Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), not another Dallas-area airport.

Seattle: cargo only

The Seattle facility only accepts dogs that fly as cargo. A dog flying in the cabin or as checked baggage cannot book there.

Los Angeles: cargo preferred

Both Los Angeles facilities prefer dogs flying as cargo, to avoid clearance delays. A dog arriving in the cabin or as checked baggage has to be transferred to cargo after landing, which can mean waiting.

Direct international flight

Your dog must arrive on an international flight directly into the facility’s airport. A connection inside the US (for example landing in Miami and flying on to Dallas) is not allowed before the facility has finished with your dog. Check that your airline flies dogs on that route, and how: see airlines and pets.

How to book

1. Choose the airport first, based on the flights available from your country, how your dog will fly (cabin, checked baggage or cargo) and where you are going in the US.
2. Contact the facility well in advance. Each one has its own method: email, an online request form or phone. Places can be limited.
3. Ask it to review your documents (vaccination certification, titer report, microchip details) before you travel. CDC recommends this, and it catches errors while there is still time.
4. Get a written confirmation. You will need it for the CDC Dog Import Form, at check-in with the airline and on arrival with US Customs and Border Protection.
5. Book the flight to match, then submit the CDC form with the same airport and date.

If your flight changes, tell the facility and submit a new CDC form: a high-risk receipt is valid for one date and one airport. See receipt validity.

What it costs

CDC does not set or publish the prices. Each facility charges for its own services, and all costs (the exam, the rabies booster and any quarantine) are paid by the importer, which usually means you.

Prices vary from one facility to another. Ask each facility for a written quote before you book, and ask what is included. A valid titer test from a CDC-approved lab avoids the quarantine: see the rabies titer test.