In 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) imposed a so-called “temporary” ban on the import of rescued dogs from over 100 countries deemed high risk for rabies.

Three years later, the ban is still in place—and dogs are dying because of it.

This sweeping policy was meant to be a short-term public health measure. But instead of developing a balanced, science-based solution, the government has kept its doors shut to rescued dogs from war zones, disaster areas, and the brutal dog meat trade.

Dogs in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Gaza, Haiti, China, and the Philippines—many of them survivors of cruelty and neglect—are now blocked from finding safety and families in Canada.

Rescue groups that once gave these animals a second chance have been forced to shut down.

Meanwhile, Canada’s own puppy mill crisis has worsened. With fewer rescues available, would-be adopters turn to irresponsible breeders who profit from suffering. Instead of protecting public health, this ban is driving more cruelty, not less.

We call on:

• The CFIA and the Government of Canada to immediately lift the rescue dog import ban
• Replace the ban with a science-based, case-by-case policy that protects both public health and animal welfare
• Create a clear exemption process for responsible, accredited rescue organizations
• Increase enforcement against puppy mills and unethical breeders within Canad

Canada’s compassion should not end at its borders. These animals deserve more than bureaucratic red tape and political delay. They deserve a chance to live.

Sign now to demand Canada drop the dog import ban and let rescue dogs find homes—instead of dying alone.