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Amended rules
By Harold Morse
let assistance dogs
bypass quarantine
Star-BulletinDeaf people's hearing dogs would be able to come into Hawaii without having to go through quarantine, under rules approved by the state Board of Agriculture.
The same would apply to assistance dogs to serve people in wheelchairs and seizure responder/alert dogs to aid epilepsy victims.
The action defines these three types of service dogs and gives their owners the same rights as owners of guide dogs for the blind.
Certified dogs for the deaf, people in wheelchairs and epilepsy patients -- if they meet certain advance requirements -- would also be able to enter the state without going through animal quarantine.
This is vital to people who depend on these dogs, said Dr. James Foppoli, state veterinarian. "They need their animals for just performing normal, everyday functions."
Seizure responder/alert dogs for epileptics are able to sense when a seizure is about to occur.
"They would alert the individual or they might alert somebody at a remote location by pressing some kind of alert buzzer or something," Foppoli said.
Amendments the board voted on cover animal quarantine rules for dogs, cats and other meat-eating animals -- procedures designed to keep animals infected with rabies from entering Hawaii.
The amendments also allow pets to remain longer on cruise ships docked here while preserving the integrity of the rabies quarantine program.
Other changes allow pet owners to purchase microchips, as part of preshipment requirements, from sources other than the state, such as their own veterinarians.
Additional changes modify conditions for removal of pets from quarantine and delegate authority to the board chairman to grant special purpose permits for performing animals.
Board action also deleted a required 90-day post-quarantine observation period and modified conditions and fees for newborn dogs and cats.
The action established a maximum time limit for review of permit applications.
Quarantine Info
