As a lifelong Michigander, I am very familiar with traveling across the border to visit our friendly Canadian neighbors, either via the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan (USA), and Windsor, Ontario (Canada).
We also have the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, which for over ninety years has connected us to our allies beneath the Detroit River. Even though it is very safe and there has been no problem yet, because I am claustrophobic, I have a bit of trouble getting to Canada this way.
When we went camping as a family, my mom and grandparents, of course, took our dogs with us. When we camped in Canada, we usually crossed the Blue Water Bridge at the Port Huron–Sarnia Border Crossing, which connects the cities of Port Huron, Michigan (USA), and Sarnia, Ontario (Canada) across the St. Clair River.
There are many more border crossings between the USA and Canada, and even more that I have not been privy to, as they are on the Western coasts of both countries, such as those that claim the British Columbia crossings near the Washington border.
My grandparents also loved to travel to Niagara Falls, which we visited on both sides: the United States side in Buffalo, New York, and the Canadian side in Niagara, Ontario.
The border crossings near the Falls are called the Peace Bridge, which connects Buffalo to Fort Erie, and the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Niagara Falls, New York, to Niagara Falls, Ontario. Not to be confused with the notable animal Rainbow Bridge, we might be familiar with!
According to the official government website for Canada, when I am traveling with my dogs as travel companions not to sell or trade, they state that, “If you are travelling with a pet or planning to import an animal to Canada, you will need the right paperwork at the border to meet Canada’s import requirements. If you don’t, you risk experiencing delays at the border and your animal may not be allowed into Canada.
Canada has specific import requirements in place to avoid introducing animal diseases to protect its people, plants and animals.
When you arrive in Canada you’ll need the following:
- a valid rabies vaccination certificate; and
- the dog appears healthy and meets humane transportation requirements
A personal pet dog is defined as a dog that is intended to live with the owner, who must also be the importer, who is bringing the animal into Canada as a personal pet dog. The dog is not intended for transfer of ownership or fostering upon its arrival into Canada, or commercial purposes such as reproduction, breeding or sale of offspring, showing or exhibition, sale of germplasm (includes semen, oocytes and embryos), sale of the dog itself, scientific use or research, or special training status (regardless of whether a profit is made or a transfer of funds occurs).
The owner must be the importer of the dog and be able to provide documentation that clearly demonstrates they own the dog and obtained ownership prior to it entering Canada upon request.
Note: other federal departments/agencies (for example, Canada Border Services Agency) may have additional requirements if an owner/importer has authorized a person/agent to accompany their import to Canada on their behalf. It is the owner/importer’s responsibility to comply with any other relevant requirements.
A hard copy of all required original documentation may be requested during the inspection, and the importer must be able to provide such records if asked. As such, it is strongly recommended to travel with a physical original copy of all required documentation,”.
Furthermore, and most notably, although Michigan does not have as many crossings as other states, for example, on the West Coast, the Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit and Windsor is the busiest USA-Canadian border crossing, handling around 8,000 trucks and 68,000 travelers daily!
What is the Rainbow Bridge for dogs
Unlike the Rainbow Bridge that connects Niagara Falls, New York, to Niagara Falls, Canada, the Rainbow Bridge for dogs is a mythical place, located in another dimension where our beloved furry family members go to wait for us after they pass on from this physical world.
I have had the gift of loving many dogs throughout the last twenty-five years or so, but I have also carried the burden of saying goodbye to them as well. I would have had more, but I lived in places that did not allow dogs until I bought the home I live in today. Here are some of the dogs I have had:
- Chocolate Labrador named Josi
- Collie/Coyote mixed breed named Roxy
- Cockapoo/Shiatzu mixed breed named Luke
- Australian Shepherd/Terrier mixed breed named Clio
- Labrador/Pitbull mixed breed named Phoebe
- German Shepherd named Otis
- Labrador/Pitbull/ German Shepherd mixed breed named Lucy
- Boxer/Bulldog mixed breed named Mila
Today, I have two dogs, Lucy and Mila, but on several occasions, I have had three, which makes a pack.
Our first pack included Josi, Roxy, and Luke. After Josi and Roxy passed on to The Rainbow Bridge, Luke was very lonely and missed his big sisters immensely. It wasn’t too long before we got another dog named Clio.
Dog pack behavior with humans
When I had Josi and Roxy alone, and I would pay attention to one, I inevitably got both snouts up in my face. Add a third spoiled little boy dog, and you can bet a fight for your attention will break out.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), “If one dog is good, then two, three, or more must be even better, right? A multi-dog home can be great, but it’s not for everyone or every dog. Many dogs thrive in a home with other pups, but not all can adjust.
The more dogs you have, the larger your budget to care for them. In addition to costs for daily maintenance, like food, toys, and treats, expenses like training and veterinary care will also be increased. Pet insurance is another recurring charge to consider.
Beyond finances, the biggest challenge for many people owning multiple dogs is having enough time for them. While many dogs enjoy engaging and playing with other pups in the home, that doesn’t diminish the time each dog needs and deserves from you. Some people choose to add dogs to their homes to keep another dog company. Sometimes this works,”.
We had the two little dogs for many years, until Luke started showing signs of aging, and I came home with a Labrador-Pitbull mix puppy named Phoebe. We were officially a pack household again! That is, until Luke went to meet the girls at The Rainbow Bridge about six months later.
A few years later, Clio died, and for the first time, we had only one dog – Phoebe. That is, until we got Otis. About eight months later, Otis and Phoebe mated, giving us a litter of six puppies! I would have loved to keep them all, but we kept little Lucy, and for the third time, we had a pack again.
Unfortunately, Phoebe got cancer, and Otis went to live with my ex-husband after our divorce, so Lucy became a single dog until a few months ago, when we adopted Mila.
Mila and Lucy are getting along wonderfully and love each other. Maybe when my two sons move out, I will add a third to have a pack once again.
Can I bring my dog into Canada by car
In conclusion, bringing your dog into Canada is simple—gather the right paperwork, plan ahead, and enjoy the journey with your loyal travel companion.