Snowbird season with a dog or cat: take them south or leave them home?

In short: Yes, you can drive your dog to Florida from Canada. Since August 1, 2024, a dog that has only been in Canada or the US needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip, to be at least six months old, and to look healthy at the border. Coming home, CFIA expects a dog eight months or older to have a valid rabies vaccination certificate. If your dog is too young, unwell or a poor traveller, a house sitter at home for the winter is the usual alternative. For Canadian snowbirds, every fall brings the same question: does the dog come south, or does it stay? For a dog that has only lived in Canada, the US paperwork is one form, so the drive, the rental's pet policy and the dog's age usually matter more than the border. This guide covers both routes with the rules quoted from the agencies that set them.

What the US asks of a dog coming from Canada

The CDC changed its dog import rules on August 1, 2024. For a dog that has only been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the six months before travel, which includes Canada, the CDC's own checklist lists four things:

• A CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The CDC calls it "the only required documentation". You can complete it on the day of travel, but the CDC recommends doing it a few days or up to six months before you leave.
• Age. "Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S."
• A microchip that a universal scanner can detect.
• Good health. The dog must appear healthy when it arrives.

The receipt works at any airport, seaport or land crossing. According to the CDC's form instructions, for a dog coming from a low-risk country it is valid for six months from issue and covers several entries from the same country in that window. That matters for snowbirds: a receipt issued just before a November crossing still covers you if you pop home for a family event in January, as long as the dog has not been to a high-risk country. That last condition is the one that catches people. The CFIA page on dogs travelling to the United States notes that a dog which has been in a country at high risk for dog rabies must wait six months in Canada before entering the US. A rescue dog that arrived from abroad this summer may not be able to go south this winter at all.

Coming back into Canada in the spring

The return trip has its own rules, set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA's import reference document says a dog eight months or older from a country that is not rabies-free needs "a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued in either English or French by a licenced veterinarian" which "clearly identifies the dog and shows that the dog is currently vaccinated against rabies". The document applies the rule to dogs coming from any country that is not rabies-free, and says the certificate comes from the country of origin. If the paperwork is missing, an inspector can order the dog vaccinated at the owner's expense. Puppies under three months are exempt from the rabies rules, and dogs between three and eight months have their own conditions. In practice, check that the rabies vaccine will still be current on the day you drive home, not just the day you leave, and carry the certificate in the car rather than in a suitcase. The CFIA's pet import tool walks you through the rules for your dog's exact age.

And if you have a cat

The CDC Dog Import Form is for dogs only. The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for a cat entering the US, but it recommends the vaccine, and its guidance on travelling with pets notes that the destination state may have additional requirements, so check before you go. Coming home, the same CFIA reference document asks for a veterinary certificate showing rabies vaccination for cats three months of age or older. For a cat that dislikes car trips, a few days on the road and a rental it does not know is a lot to ask, which is why the next section is often the shorter road.

When leaving them in Canada makes more sense

The border is rarely the hard part. These are the situations where leaving a pet at home is usually the simpler choice:

• The dog is under six months old. It cannot enter the US under the CDC rule, whatever the paperwork.
• The dog was imported recently from a high-risk country and has not yet spent six months in Canada.
• The rental does not take pets, or charges a pet fee that adds up over several months.
• The pet is old, anxious or on medication and a two- or three-day drive would be hard on it.
• You have more than one pet, or a cat and a dog, and moving the whole household south is not practical.

Who looks after a pet for a whole winter

For a stay of weeks or months, house sitting is the usual answer: a sitter lives in your home, keeps your pet's routine, and keeps an eye on a house that would otherwise sit empty through the coldest months. On Petme, house sitting in Canada typically runs CAD 50 to 90 a night in the largest metros, CAD 45 to 75 in mid-sized cities and CAD 40 to 65 in smaller ones. Each sitter sets their own rate, so ask about a rate for a long stay when you contact them. If your pet is a cat that only needs feeding, litter and company, a schedule of daily drop-in visits costs less than an overnight sitter. Our guide to drop-in visits vs overnight cat care sets out which one suits which cat. Before a long winter away, it is worth doing the same checks you would for any sitter, only more carefully:

• Do a trial weekend before you leave, so problems show up while you are still a short drive away. Our pet sitter trial run guide covers what to look for.
• Leave written instructions for the furnace, water shut-off and snow clearing as well as for the pet. A pet sitter instructions template is a good start.
• Give your vet a signed note naming the sitter, so they can authorize treatment if you cannot be reached.
• Agree how often you want photos and updates, and how changes to the dates will be handled.

You can browse house sitters across Canada on Petme. Each sitter sets their own rate and you see it on their profile before you book, with no booking fee added at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my dog to Florida from Canada?

Yes, if your dog is at least six months old, microchipped, healthy, and has only been in Canada or other low-risk countries for the past six months. Since August 1, 2024 the CDC asks for one document, the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, which you can complete before the trip or on the day you cross.

What do I need to cross the border with my dog from Canada to the US?

You need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip a universal scanner can read, and a dog at least six months old that looks healthy at the crossing. The receipt is valid for six months and covers several entries from Canada in that time, which suits snowbirds who drive home and back mid-winter.

Does my dog need a rabies certificate to come back into Canada?

A dog eight months or older returning from the US needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French from a licensed veterinarian that identifies the dog, according to the CFIA. Without it, a CFIA inspector can order the dog vaccinated at your expense. Puppies under three months are exempt.

Can I bring my cat across the border to the US?

Yes. The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for a cat entering the US, though it recommends the vaccine and many states set their own rules. When you return, the CFIA asks for a veterinary certificate showing rabies vaccination for cats three months of age or older.

How much does a house sitter cost while I winter in Florida?

On Petme, house sitting in Canada typically costs CAD 50 to 90 a night in the largest metros and CAD 40 to 65 in smaller cities. Each sitter sets their own rate, so ask for a quote for your exact dates and length of stay.