For your reading pleasure.

Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. Chapter 54, Section 2131

You will notice it includes interstate transport of domestic animals including pets.

And here you can look up what the import laws are for your state. This includes dogs , cats , ferrets .. etc.

Domestic animal import laws by state.

So yeah, actually there are quite a few.

And if your interested, the standards for airline transport.

Airline Transportation Laws of domestic animals.

Just FYI.

 Quote: Ben McDonald

For your reading pleasure.

Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. Chapter 54, Section 2131

You will notice it includes interstate transport of domestic animals including pets.

And here you can look up what the import laws are for your state. This includes dogs , cats , ferrets .. etc.

Domestic animal import laws by state.

So yeah, actually there are quite a few.

And if your interested, the standards for airline transport.

Airline Transportation Laws of domestic animals.

Just FYI.

Can you tell me what portion of the Animal Welfare Act that you cite covers pets? I'm just not seeing it, although it's 62 pages long, and I haven't read every word. It seems to me it applies to animals for commercial use.

Also, in the link to the individual states' rules, again, I haven't checked all 50 of them, but the few I randomly selected either were talking strictly about commercial livestock, or mentioned that pet dogs had to have proof of rabies vaccination, or in a couple of cases, rabies plus a certificate of veterinary inspection.

I don't see where any of this would preclude driving rescued dogs across state lines for the purpose of adoption.

Ok, I'll explain a bit more. I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm just saying its a pain in the butt, and the government either federally or locally makes it that way.

When money is involved in anything ( adoption fees, transport fees, whatever ...) even by a non-profit, when they start shipping animals across state lines they fall under interstate commerce law. It deals with commercial animals as well, but commerce being the operative word here, commerce being the exchange of goods or services for money. Rescue animals that have been "paid" for fall under this. As they are also considered property. This is why there are regulations concerning this (Import laws of dogs/cats/pet animals) in every state, and federally. Page 2. in the Animal Welfare Act. (I'm not going to start citing every federal law that deals with transporting live animals across state lines, too much to put on here!)

"(1) to insure that animals intended for use in research
facilities or for exhibition purposes or for use as pets are
provided humane care and treatment;
(2) to assure the humane treatment of animals during
transportation in commerce; and
(3) to protect the owners of animals from the theft of their
animals by preventing the sale or use of animals which have been
stolen."

(Did you know its a federal crime to steal a pet , cross state lines and sell it?)

With local ordinances and laws its a bit different. The usual rule of thumb is vet certificate of rabies vaccination, and health certificate that is within the last 30 days. That's the basics for alot of states. However, there are even states that require paperwork that is signed by a vet within 10 days of entering the state if you bring your own pet in, not just transporting a "pet" that you don't own. YOU may not have accepted money, but the exchange has taken place at some point in the line. However, there are states that get a little bit more touchy. Just for example.

Connecticut -

"*** DOGS AND CATS ***

Any dog or cat imported into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued no more than 30 days prior to entry by a licensed veterinarian and approved by the proper livestock sanitary official of the state of its origin, stating that such dog or cat is free from clinical signs of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, that such dog or cat is not from an area under quarantine for rabies. Any such dog or cat over 3 months of age must have proof of current rabies vaccination given by a veterinarian prior to the date of importation and not have been exposed to rabies within the past 100 days. A copy of such health certificate shall be forwarded promptly to the commissioner. Any person may import, from another state any licensed dog with collar and tag, and keep the same in this state for not more than thirty days without complying with the provision of section 22-337 or 22-338. No person firm or corporation shall import or export for the purposes of sale or offering for sale any dog under the age of eight weeks unless such dog is transported with its dam and no person firm or corporation shall sell within the state any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks. Any person firm or corporation violating the provisions of this section or bring in any dog into this state from an area under quarantine for rabies shall be fined not more than $100.00 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both. "

(That is in addition to, not either/or.)

Montana -

"Domestic Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets Import Requirements
Certificate Requirements

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

Required for companion animals:
Less than 3 months of age
For breeding
For change of ownership (includes pet store and shelter animals)
International companion animals must meet the same import requirements as domestic animals. International travelers should also visit the CDC website for international import requirements. The website is http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/BringingAnimalToUs.html

Permit Requirements

Import Permit

Required for companion animals:
For breeding
For change of ownership (includes pet store and shelter animals)
Originating from a rabies quarantine area
Originating from a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) area"

Yes, in Montana you have to have an import permit for that.

Does everyone go by it? Nope. Does everyone go the speed limit in their car? Nope. Food for thought. Just saying that it is a bit more complicated then what alot of people think it is.

You can bet if a large scale volunteer operation of transporting animals across the country came into being, there would be some oversight on the part of our wonderful government in some way or another.

If you are truly interested in what exactly, and how exactly it works with transporting animals, even pets (or animals used as pets). Ask me in a PM, and I will steer you in the right direction.