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Kokua Line
Question: I recently heard a rumor that Hawaii was going to a "pet passport" system. Is this true and what would it entail? Would it help in bringing the pet in and out of Hawaii? No plans for ‘pet
passport’ system hereAnswer: There are no plans to institute the system in Hawaii, at least not now, said Dr. Jim Foppoli, the state veterinarian.
That's because more than 90 percent of the animals brought to Hawaii are from the continental United States, where rabies is still endemic. About 7,000 to 8,000 cases of rabies are reported annually on the mainland, Foppoli noted.
Some background: Britain instituted the "pet passport" program last February, allowing dogs and cats from 22 "rabies-free" European countries to enter the country without being quarantined for six months.
On Jan. 31 this year, the program was extended to 15 rabies-free islands and archipelagos, including Hawaii. No other U.S. state qualified.
Each passport certifies that the animal has an implanted identification microchip, and has been vaccinated against rabies and blood-tested by a government-approved laboratory.
Hawaii already has a modified system, in which the 120-day quarantine can be reduced to 30 days if pets meet specific requirements before and after their arrival here. Call the Animal Quarantine Station at 483-7151 or check its Web site: www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ for specifics.
Hawaii exempts pets from the quarantine requirement if they are from the British Isles, Australia or New Zealand. "So, we have programs in place for countries that are rabies free," Foppoli said.
Meanwhile, although rabies is "virtually non-existent" in the European countries that are part of Britain's pet passport program, it is not completely so.
Q: I recently received two car license-plate frames that have plastic covers to protect the plates. Is this legal in Hawaii? Quarantine Info
A: As long as the license number can be seen. State law requires license plates to "be displayed entirely unobscured and be kept reasonably clean."
Over time, a cover may turn yellow and thus obscure the license number. That would subject you to a possible citation.
What a doll
A Kokua Line reader last week wanted to know how to contact a woman who repaired dolls for distribution to needy children. Carla Connell called to say she not only repairs dolls, but coordinates a group of volunteers who do so year-round. Several hundred dolls are then distributed at Christmas time via KHON-TV's Lokahi Tree program, she said.If you would like to donate some dolls, write to Connell at P.O. Box 26291, Honolulu 96825, giving her your contact number, and she will get back to you. She's also looking for volunteers.
Mahalo
To a good Samaritan who probably saved my life on Thursday, Jan. 11. I had a flat tire of great magnitude on the Pali Highway, with the tire shredding all over the left lane. I did not know how to change the tire, but was very lucky because right behind me was a gentleman named Koa who works for Island Demo. Koa stopped, cleared the lane of traffic for me and changed the tire. He called police so they could send someone to clear the debris from the highway, then followed me all the way to Kamehameha School, where my first-grader was waiting, to make sure my spare tire would hold. This guy is too awesome. He will be on our minds for the rest of our lives. -- Caroline
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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