Schedule the health certificate inside the window
Use the planned entry date to keep the certificate within Connecticut’s 30-day timing rule.
The short answer
Connecticut’s published import requirements call for a certificate of health issued within 30 days before entry. Dogs and cats over three months need current rabies vaccination and must not have been exposed to rabies in the prior 100 days. A 2026 NWS order adds origin-based requirements for animals from infested or adjacent surveillance zones.
At a glance
What to prepare for a Connecticut trip
Certificate of health
Connecticut’s published dog-and-cat import requirements say the certificate must be issued within 30 days before entry by a licensed veterinarian and approved by the origin official.
Rabies and exposure
Dogs and cats over three months need current rabies vaccination, and the state document says they must not have been exposed to rabies in the prior 100 days.
Current NWS order
Connecticut’s July 2026 order requires an affirmative wound/signs statement and authorized systemic treatment for domestic animals entering from an NWS infested zone.
Plan the paperwork
Build the checklist around the actual trip
Carry the rabies record
Keep the rabies certificate with the health certificate and confirm the pet’s identification and vaccination dates are consistent.
Check the current Connecticut NWS order
The July 2026 order applies to domestic animals entering from infested or adjacent surveillance zones and can require inspection statements and treatment documentation.
Important before you book
For a pickup originating in an NWS infested or adjacent surveillance zone, verify Connecticut’s current order before dispatch. The state’s ordinary health-certificate checklist is not the whole process for those origins.
Ground transport
Snout Route service in Connecticut
Snout Route coordinates door-to-door ground pet transport in Connecticut as part of service across the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Alaska, and Canada. We review the route and the documents supplied for the trip before pickup; the pet owner and veterinarian remain responsible for satisfying the applicable government requirements.
Details that can change the trip
Check these before the appointment
The NWS order is time-limited and changeable
The current Connecticut order says it is active until October 31, 2026 unless modified or extended earlier. Recheck it before travel.
Sale and young-puppy cases differ
Connecticut’s published requirements say a dog under eight weeks cannot be imported for sale unless transported with its dam, and dogs or cats under eight weeks cannot be sold.
Origin matters
The additional NWS requirements depend on where the animal comes from and whether it passed through a covered zone. Review the current order for the actual pickup route.
Primary sources
Check the official rule before travel
These links go to the agencies responsible for the requirements summarized on this page.
Common questions
Connecticut pet transport FAQ
How recent must a Connecticut health certificate be?
The published Connecticut import document says it must be issued within 30 days before entry.
When does Connecticut require rabies vaccination?
The published document says dogs and cats over three months need current rabies vaccination and must not have been exposed to rabies in the prior 100 days.
What does Connecticut’s 2026 NWS order change?
For covered origins, it adds an examination statement about wounds and NWS signs and requires authorized systemic treatment within the labeled duration at entry. Check the current order before travel.
Can a very young puppy be imported for sale?
The published Connecticut requirements restrict dogs under eight weeks unless transported with their dam and restrict the sale of dogs or cats under eight weeks.
More state transport guides
Planning another interstate move?
Compare current pet-entry and ground-transport planning guidance for Indiana pet transport requirements · Maryland pet transport requirements · Massachusetts pet transport requirements.
Planning a Connecticut move?
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