Meet Zoe: Her Successful Import Story from a High-Risk Rabies Country

Rescuing dogs is already a labor of love, but when it comes to saving those enduring difficult circumstances overseas, the challenges grow exponentially.

These dogs often arrive with both physical scars and emotional wounds that require specialized care and attention before the logistics of navigating complex import regulations come into play. 

Zoe’s journey from Egypt to the United States combines all of those challenges for a story of inspiration and resilience. Thanks to the dedication of a special rescuer and the expertise of Tailwind Global Pet, the former street dog can transition to a new life of healing over hardship.

Zoe’s Journey

Zoe is the definition of a survivor. Found on the streets of Egypt, she was caring for a litter of puppies despite enduring unimaginable abuse that left her without paws and parts of her ears. 

The Animal Protection Foundation, a local rescue, brought her in with her puppies for immediate care, after which she got the attention of Debbie Pearl, a long-time rescuer in California.

Debbie runs The Unstoppable Ranch. Her crew is a high-energy group of dogs that come with what many would consider unique challenges. For Debbie, their spirit far outweighs any special needs, whether that’s wheelchairs, prosthetics, or birth defects.

Zoe’s plight reminded Debbie of Elliot, another dog already in her care. Elliot was also left to fend for himself on the streets of Egypt after having all four of his paws cut off. Today, he zooms around with his friends courtesy of four custom prosthetics and a renewed trust in people.

Adding Zoe to her group was a no-brainer for Debbie, but it would take some time and effort to get her to her new home. 

Timeline

Debbie knew Zoe would be joining her family back in March, but it would take until November to get her to California. She was a unique case. On top of numerous surgeries and healing time to get her healthy enough to travel, there was an added layer of complexity. 

Zoe was coming from Egypt, a country on the CDC’s new watch list of places at high risk of rabies. Since August 1, 2024, any pets imported from countries on the list need to jump through additional hoops to get to destinations around the country like California.

For Zoe, that meant time to get healthy and to allow Debbie and Tailwind to gather the necessary paperwork for her import into the United States. Zoe was cleared to go by October, but an unexpected delay — the flight volunteer expected to travel with her from Egypt fell ill — meant an additional month of waiting.

When her travel date finally approached, all the hard work paid off. After about 20 hours of travel time, including a layover in Frankfurt, Zoe arrived at her new home without further incident, ready to meet Debbie and her new pack. She was home. She had just a brief stay with Tailwind at Kennel Club LAX to complete her exam and revaccination then proceed with CDC and US Customs clearance.

Paperwork

As Zoe was coming from a country classified as high risk for rabies, she had to meet additional requirements put in place by the CDC last August. While the new rules might seem cumbersome, the intent is simple: The CDC doesn’t want infectious diseases to spread to pets in the U.S. 

For dogs arriving from any of the 109 countries on the list without a history of rabies vaccines in the U.S., they need the following forms: 

• CDC Dog Import Form receipt
• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form (rabies titer)
• Confirmation letter for your appointment at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF)

An ACF is a CDC-approved location where dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries can undergo intake with a vet or start their quarantine. 

These facilities ensure the animals meet the new health and vaccination standards before they’re released to their owners. There are just 7 of them across the U.S. Our Kennel Club LAX facility is one.

Dogs also need a rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory. Missing any of these pieces can mean long delays or denial of import. Dogs unable to find a suitable lab for their rabies titer, for example, face a 28-day quarantine upon arrival. Zoe had her labs done in Germany. 

Dogs like Zoe, with a history of medical conditions, face additional obstacles. The CDC wants to know that your pet won’t spread ANY infectious disease. If they have what appears to be a skin condition, they want paperwork documenting that condition and relevant treatment.

The airlines also want to know that the dog is healthy enough to fly. For a pup like Zoe with obvious special needs, they want documentation of proof of injuries or health conditions ahead of travel. 

In cases of abuse, they need documentation about the initial incident and when it occurred, how the pet was treated, and that they’re cleared to travel. If the dog has any condition, even something innocuous like a head tilt, skin conditions, or behavioral issues it should be documented in paperwork from their vet. 

Any surprises upon arrival could mean delays. Records of any pre-existing conditions or medication regimens should be typed and dated. 

In Zoe’s case, working with Tailwind allowed Debbie to focus on prepping for her arrival rather than worrying that she had everything she needed from the vets in Egypt. She could focus on getting her everything she needed to acclimate to her new life in California.

Coordination

Importing a dog from a high-risk rabies country requires getting through a maze of regulations, but it’s also logistically challenging. As Zoe was coming from Egypt, that meant navigating time zones and language barriers to communicate with the stakeholders involved in her case.

A pet shipper like Tailwind becomes invaluable in situations like this one. We make ourselves available 24/7 to review documents and assist importers with what may be missing, from vet records to CDC forms, and keep lines of communication open with everyone involved. 

We also handle the logistics of working with flight volunteers and transport partners to ensure your pet’s journey does more than meet CDC guidelines. We find the safest, most efficient routes for your pet, which is a must when working with dogs coming from challenging circumstances. We are here to assist you from the moment you land in LAX to ensure that your pet is safely transferred to Kennel Club LAX.

Debbie had the option of working with third-party brokers to support her during the process but chose the full-service support of Tailwind in the end. Our all-inclusive service streamlines complex import processes for dogs like Zoe. 

The Unstoppable Ranch

Debbie’s nonprofit, The Unstoppable Ranch, is a sanctuary dedicated to special needs dogs in celebration of their resilience despite life’s challenges. The nonprofit provides a safe haven filled with compassion and purpose and gives these extraordinary animals a chance to thrive.

Beyond caring for these dogs, the ranch also fosters human connections by sharing the dogs’ inspiring stories and creating opportunities for meaningful interaction. For veterans with limb differences, for example, time spent with these dogs can be very impactful.

Debbie’s dogs also send out a message of forgiveness. The idea that they can forgive and thrive despite coming from challenging, at times horrific, circumstances is a powerful idea. 

In cases like Zoe’s, they show us what’s possible when we connect with networks that allow us to embrace our best lives. 

While she was safe once she was at her rescue in Egypt, she wouldn’t have had access to the level of care, equipment, and physical therapy she’d need to meet her full potential.

The Unstoppable Ranch is an inclusive community that embraces both struggles and triumphs, showing how love and patience can overcome any obstacle. Together, humans and dogs inspire one another to live fully and embody the power of love and determination.

Tailwind’s Role in the Pet Import Process

Zoe’s story has a happy ending thanks to the persistence of the adults around her who wanted to give her a better life. Whether you’re a rescuer or a pet lover who wants to bring a dog in from a challenging origin point, you can make it happen, despite the complexities involved.

It’s about preparation. Dogs that arrive from high-risk countries for rabies with all of the documentation they need to clear customs don’t typically face additional hurdles. Many pets with a history of health conditions can travel as long as they’re cleared as healthy enough to fly.

A professional pet shipper can help. We offer comfort during a stressful situation and are with you every step of the way, all the way through your reunion — or initial meeting! — with your pet.

Ready to get started? Each pet relocation situation is different, so to get an idea of the costs involved, fill out a quote request