Reservation Requirements for CDC Quarantine at DFW Pet Lounge

What you need to know — and do — before your dog travels to the United States from a CDC-designated high-risk rabies country.

DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine is listed on the CDC's Official ACF Registry

We are a federally registered CDC Animal Care Facility (ACF) at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport — one of only a small number of approved facilities in the United States. A reservation at a listed CDC ACF is a federal requirement for all dogs arriving from high-risk countries. Your dog must fly into DFW to use our facility.

At a Glance — The CDC Reservation Rule

Who Must Have a Reservation

According to the CDC, a reservation at a registered ACF is required for any foreign-vaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies within the last 6 months — before entering the United States.

This applies regardless of how long your dog was in that country — even a brief visit triggers the requirement.

Your Dog Must Fly into DFW

Dogs must travel by air and arrive at the U.S. airport where their reserved ACF is located. If you reserve with DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine, your dog must arrive at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

You cannot make a reservation at DFW Pet Lounge and have your dog land at a different U.S. airport.

With a Valid Titer — Fast Import

If your dog has a valid passing rabies serology titer result (≥0.5 IU/mL) from a CDC-approved laboratory, a reservation is still required — but your dog may qualify for the Fast Import Track, which does not require a 28-day quarantine.

All documentation must be verified by our team before travel.

Without a Valid Titer — 28-Day Quarantine

If your dog does not have a valid titer result, your reservation must include a 28-day quarantine after the U.S. rabies revaccination administered at our facility on arrival.

This is a federal requirement — not a facility policy. See the Standard Import Track for full details.

What You Need Before Making a Reservation

To submit a reservation inquiry with DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine, you will need to provide the following information. Having this ready before you contact us speeds up the process and helps us confirm your dog's import track accurately.

Dog Information

  • Dog's full name and primary breed
  • Microchip number
  • Date of birth
  • Countries your dog has lived in or traveled to in the past 6 months

Owner / Contact Information

  • Full name of importer / owner
  • Email address and mobile phone (with country code)
  • Country of residence
  • Whether you are a U.S. passport holder

Documentation Status

Let us know which of the following you currently hold. This determines your import track and reservation type:

  • USDA-endorsed Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination (current)
  • Original USDA-endorsed Export Health Certificate issued on or before July 31, 2025
  • Passing titer result (≥0.5 IU/mL) from a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory
  • None of the above — 28-day quarantine reservation required

Travel Information

  • Intended arrival date at DFW Airport
  • Airline and flight number (if confirmed)
  • Country of departure
  • Whether your dog will travel as cargo or in-cabin

Important — Book Early

Quarantine spaces at our facility are limited. The CDC requires that your reservation be confirmed before your dog travels — not after arrival. Dogs arriving without a confirmed reservation at a CDC-registered ACF may be denied entry or placed in an extended CBP hold at significant additional cost.

We recommend contacting us at least 4–6 weeks before your intended travel date. During peak travel periods, spaces may fill sooner.

Document Checklist

The following documents are required for your reservation and must be reviewed by our team before your dog travels. Gather these before submitting your inquiry — incomplete documentation at the port of entry can result in denial of entry or extended hold.

  • Rabies vaccination & microchip documentation CFRVM / CF-3-24 form completed by a licensed veterinarian
  • Rabies titer test result FAVN or RFFIT from a CDC-approved laboratory (≥0.5 IU/mL)
  • CDC Dog Import Form receipt Or VS Form 17-129 if applicable
  • Veterinary records Complete vaccination and health history from your veterinarian
  • Dog photos × 4 Full face & body (front), side view, and teeth — recent, clear photos
  • Travel itinerary Flight details and airline confirmation
  • Parasite treatment record Internal & external treatment, administered within 30 days of arrival
  • Screwworm inspection certificate Required if applicable based on country of origin
  • CDC reservation confirmation email Issued by DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine after your inquiry is approved
  • Air Waybill If available — provide to our team prior to arrival

Document requirements may change. Always verify current CDC requirements using the CDC Dog Importation Navigator before travel. Our team will provide a document checklist specific to your reservation after your inquiry is reviewed.

How to Make a Reservation

1

Review your import track

Check which of our three import tracks applies to your dog based on your documentation status and country of origin.

View Import Tracks
2

Submit your inquiry

Complete our import inquiry form with your dog's details and documentation status. One form per dog required.

Submit Inquiry Form
3

Receive confirmation

Our team reviews your documentation, confirms your import track, provides a provisional estimate, and issues your reservation confirmation.

Contact Our Team

Prefer to call?

Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at (817) 393-3315 to discuss your reservation, confirm availability, or ask questions about the CDC import process before you submit the inquiry form.

CDC Quarantine Process

Understand exactly what happens from arrival to release — the full six-step quarantine process explained in plain language.

View the Process

Dog Import Service Tracks

Not sure which track — Fast Import, Standard Quarantine, or Customs Clearance — applies to your dog? Review the three tracks before submitting.

Review Import Tracks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about making a CDC quarantine reservation at DFW Pet Lounge.

Yes — this is a federal CDC requirement. Any foreign-vaccinated dog that has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies within the last 6 months must have a confirmed reservation at a CDC-registered ACF before entering the United States. Dogs arriving without a confirmed reservation may be denied entry at the port of entry.

We recommend at least 4–6 weeks before your intended travel date. Our team needs time to review your documentation, confirm your import track, and issue a reservation confirmation before your dog travels. During peak periods spaces may fill faster — contact us as early as possible.

No. The CDC requires that your dog arrive at the U.S. airport where their reserved ACF is located. If you reserve with DFW Pet Lounge & Quarantine, your dog's first U.S. port of entry must be Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). You cannot make a reservation here and route your dog through another airport first.

Yes — a reservation is still required even with a valid titer. However, with a passing titer (≥0.5 IU/mL from a CDC-approved lab) your dog may qualify for our Fast Import Track, which does not include a 28-day quarantine. Our team will confirm your track after reviewing your documentation.

Yes. The CDC rule applies to any dog that has been in a high-risk country within the past 6 months — regardless of the length of stay. A brief visit or transit still triggers the reservation and documentation requirements. Contact our team to confirm the specific requirements for your situation.

Once we review your inquiry and documentation, our team issues a reservation confirmation that includes: your confirmed import track, a provisional service estimate, an outline of required documents, and next steps for your dog's arrival at DFW. This confirmation is what you need before booking your dog's flight.

Dogs arriving from high-risk countries without a confirmed ACF reservation may be denied entry by CBP at the port of entry. If allowed temporary entry, the dog must be placed in a CDC-registered ACF immediately — which may result in an unplanned extended hold, significant additional cost, and potential risk of the dog being treated as abandoned under federal regulations if the importer does not cooperate. Do not travel without a confirmed reservation.

No — one inquiry per dog is required. Each dog has different documentation, a potentially different import track, and separate reservation and compliance records. Please submit a separate import inquiry form for each dog you are importing.

Ready to reserve your dog's place at DFW Pet Lounge?

Spaces are limited. Submit your inquiry early — our team will review your documentation, confirm your import track, and issue your reservation confirmation so your dog can travel with confidence.

Submit Import Inquiry Contact Our Team (817) 393-3315

6148 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, TX 76054