Our 500th RV Podcast: How it all began and where it’s going RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

This week on the RV Podcast:









* This is our 500th RV Podcast. For close to 10 years, we’ve been doing this show. This week, we tell you how it all began…and where we’re headed...







* We have some clarification on those controversial new CDC rules on bringing your dog back from Canada and Mexico. But that clarification doesn't mean it still isn’t confusing.







* In our social media buzz segment, we have tips on keeping cool while camping in the summer heat. 







* All this, plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode #500 of the RV Podcast.









You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.

















If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.























The Latest from the CDC on their new rules for bringing your dog back from Canada and Mexico







As we’ve been reporting, starting August 1 some very detailed and complicated new rules will go into effect for anyone who enters the United States with a dog. 







And while these new rules are aimed at keeping so-called rescue dogs being imported into the US from countries that have high rates of canine rabies, they also affect tourists and RVers who take their dogs with them on vacation to Canada and Mexico and then come back home.







You heard that right. The rules about bringing animals in from nations that have problems with rabies also apply to family pets owned either by Canadians coming to vacation in the US, or US citizens who have traveled to Canada and are returning home.







After almost two weeks of trying, we finally got a written response to our questions from the CDC. The CDC refused to be interviewed and would only respond to written questions, providing us the following information:









* To come back onto the US, your dog must be at least six months old. So if you have a young dog or puppy, even if you left the US with it for your vacation, you can not return to the US with the pup until it is six months old.







* All dogs returning to the US must be microchipped. 







* You must have the dog vaccinated for rabies and have written proof of that and the microchip number from your vet







* Your vet must fill out a form and send it to the USDA.







* Finally, 2-10 days before returning to the US, you must take face and body photos of your dog, complete a CDC Dog import form, note the microchip number on it, identify which port of entry you will use to return to the US and upload it to the CDC, keeping a copy of the receipt they send you back that you can show at the border when you chrome back to the US.









Did you get all that? 







We asked our vet and after checking, his response was “Good God what a mess!







All the forms, all the paperwork seemed overwhelming. 







The CDC recommends you begin getting the documentation done 60-90 days before leaving the country with your pet.







All of those rules must go into effect Aug. 1. If you have not followed them, your dog will not be allowed to return to the US.







Now here’s the rub. Some of the required forms won't be available until after July 15. The rules take affect two weeks later.







The CDC is putting as much of this as they can online. We have two resources they shared.