Sec. 22-354. Imported dogs and cats. Health certificates. Importation from rabies quarantine area. Puppies and kittens. Sale of young puppies and kittens. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 22-354. Imported dogs and cats. Health certificates. Importation from rabies quarantine area. Puppies and kittens. Sale of young puppies and kittens. Any dog or cat imported into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued no earlier than thirty days prior to the date of importation by a licensed, graduate veterinarian stating that such dog or cat is free from symptoms of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, and that such dog or cat, if three months of age or older, is currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. A copy of such health certificate shall be forwarded promptly to the commissioner from the livestock sanitary official of the state of origin. Any dog or cat originating from a rabies quarantine area must have permission of the State Veterinarian prior to importation into this state. No person, firm or corporation shall import or export for the purposes of sale or offering for sale any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks unless such dog or cat is transported with its dam and no person, firm or corporation shall sell within the state any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks. Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this section or bringing any dog or cat into this state from an area under quarantine for rabies shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both.

      (1951, S. 713b; 1953, S. 1837d; 1957, P.A. 74, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 613, S. 25; P.A. 74-22; P.A. 91-46, S. 5, 12; P.A. 96-243, S. 14, 16; P.A. 04-145, S. 2.)

      History: 1963 act changed maximum amount of time dog may remain in state without health certificate and/or state license from 21 to 30 days; P.A. 74-22 added provisions re import or export of dogs less than 8 weeks old; P.A. 91-46 added cats to coverage under this section, added requirement that any importation of dogs or cats from a rabies quarantine area be approved by the state veterinarian, deleting provision which had allowed certificate issued by livestock sanitary official of state of origin as proof of animals' health, changed maximum time lapse since vaccination from 6 to 12 months and deleted provision excepting show animals not kept in-state for more than 30 days from provisions of section; P.A. 96-243 modified the vaccination requirement for importation of dogs and cats, deleting former provisions re exposure to rabies and vaccination within certain timeframe, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 04-145 added 30-day certificate of health issuance restriction, effective May 21, 2004.