Zoonosis Control Branch
Laws
Impound
Quarantine
Report
Rules
Shelter
Transport
Vaccination
Wild Animals
Laws - Animal Import & Export
(Laws, Regulations, Rules)
Animal Import and Export Requirements
To obtain information on entry requirements for bringing a cat or dog into Texas, please visit the
Entry Requirements page.
To obtain information on other states' import requirements, see
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/interstate-pet-travel.
If you are traveling internationally with your pet, contact the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, about requirements at 512-383-2411. You can also visit their website at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/.
To obtain federal animal importation requirements in the Animal Welfare Act, including amended regulations effective 11-17-14 pertaining to the importation of dogs for purposes of resale, research, or veterinary treatment, please view Subpart J - Importation of Live Dogs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have additional requirements for animals arriving from another country; the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine may be contacted at 1-800-232-4636 or https://www.cdc.gov/importation/index.html for further information. Keep in mind that, even if the CDC states that dogs or cats under certain circumstances do not need to be vaccinated against rabies for entry into the US, the animal still needs to be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with Texas state law for entry into Texas.
To obtain information on the movement of livestock, poultry, certain wildlife, and exotic animals, contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at (512) 719-0700 or visit their website at https://www.tahc.texas.gov/.