Animal Importation: Public Health and Animal Welfare - Experiences and Cases from Los Angeles County

This presentation discusses the implications of animal importation on public health, animal welfare, and veterinary medicine from the experience of a local public health agency in Los Angeles County. The presenter will discuss the role of federal, state and local agencies in companion animal importation; the risks of adopting pets from overseas including public health, veterinary, and community implications; animal importation trends; specific diseases of concern and examples of imported diseases; and challenges in regulating animal importation, disease control, and public education.