The Homeward Bound Act delays enforcement of a 2024 federal regulation on importing dogs and cats for 18 months with respect to military members stationed abroad, diplomats, and their family members who want to bring dogs from countries with low rabies risk, as well as individuals importing service animals from those same countries. The bill also directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to revise import regulations within 10 days to allow importing dogs of any age or older dogs without microchips from low-rabies-risk countries at any port of entry. This legislation affects active-duty service members, diplomatic staff working overseas, their family members, and service animal handlers seeking to bring pets back to the United States. The bill does not provide specific funding amounts and establishes an 18-month timeline for the delayed application, after which the original rule would go into effect unless further action is taken. The legislation preserves the authority of the Department of Agriculture to enforce its own regulations on this subject.
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