The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation filed for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to immediately halt enforcement of a new rule restricting the importation of dogs into the United States. If granted, the preliminary injunction would allow Sportsmen’s Alliance members to import to the U.S. or reenter the country with puppies under six months of age. If awarded, the injunction would also void the requirement that dogs crossing the border be microchipped.
“Today, we’ve asked the court to recognize CDC’s egregious overstep and to immediately step in to offer relief for our members,” said Michael Jean, litigation counsel at the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “CDC has been reminded by the courts time and again of the restraints on its power, but the agency continues to over-regulate. A preliminary injunction will halt enforcement of this arbitrary rule until we can permanently enjoin CDC’s overreach.”
The rule, which went into effect on Aug. 1, includes new paperwork requirements and microchips for those who want to enter the U.S. with a dog and goes on to prohibit any dog under the age of six months from entering the country. CDC claims the new rule is aimed at preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the U.S., but the restrictions are arbitrarily broad and will cripple sporting breed imports and opportunities to travel to Canada to hunt with dogs.
“This rule is already affecting our members’ plans to sell and purchase hunting dogs, travel to hunt, and compete in trials on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border,” said Torin Miller, Associate Litigation Counsel at the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “Our members’ interests in these activities outweigh the virtually non-existent possibility of the reintroduction of dog rabies from Canada, and we’re confident the Court will agree.”
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