No quarantine
for most petsSome 78% of incoming animals
skipped the kennel, and more
rule changes are looming
The number of people using the new pet quarantine rules is increasing steadily, and the state is proposing more changes to make it easier for Hawaii residents to travel with their pets.
Last month, about 78 percent or 409 of the 525 animals that arrived in Hawaii were released to their owners at the airport and did not have to go through quarantine for rabies. Another 12 pets were held less than five days, according to the state Department of Agriculture.
Since the new rules took effect June 30, about 1,109 or 64 percent of the 1,733 animals arriving in Hawaii spent no time or less than five days in quarantine.
The new rules allow pet owners who meet certain conditions to skip quarantine. The conditions include two rabies vaccinations, a microchip implant for identification, a blood test to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccination and a 120-day waiting period after the blood test.
If paperwork is sent ahead of time, the animal can be released at the airport. In other cases, animals can spend up to five days in quarantine waiting for the paperwork to be processed.
Pets that don't qualify for the new rules must be placed in quarantine for 30 days if immunization and testing requirements are met, or 120 days if not.
Under the old rules, about 75 percent of the 4,681 animals brought into Honolulu last year had to spend 30 days in quarantine.
The program is "exceeding expectations," said Gov. Linda Lingle in a written news release. "We're pleased that pet owners, including military families moving to the islands, are able to comply with the new rules with few inconveniences, and more importantly, minimal to zero time apart from their pets."
State Agriculture Chairwoman Sandra Lee Kunimoto said that if owners have all their paperwork in order, it takes only 20 to 30 minutes to release a pet to the owner after they arrive at the airport holding facility.
The state Board of Agriculture will be holding hearings next month on further changes to the quarantine law that would allow pets from Hawaii to skip the 120-day pre-arrival waiting period if immunization and other requirements are met.
The changes will make it easier for people from Hawaii to travel with their pets, and for people who have second homes here to bring their pets with them to Hawaii.
Another proposed rule change could shorten the time animals would spend in quarantine by prorating the period based on vaccination test results.
The proposal would help people like David and Maria Bauer, who were visiting their 11-year-old cat Sebastian yesterday at the animal quarantine station in Halawa.
David Bauer is in the military and had only about two months' notice that he was moving here. Although Sebastian has been vaccinated and had a blood test two months ago showing the vaccine is working, the cat still must spend a full 120 days in quarantine at Halawa. Under the proposal, Sebastian would have to spend only about 60 days in quarantine.
"It doesn't make sense to me," Bauer said. "I was just wondering why the time on the mainland prior to arrival doesn't count toward the time spent here."
Hearing dates set
The new quarantine requirements and proposed changes are online at the state Department of Agriculture's Web site: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa. Hearings on the rule changes are scheduled for:
>> Maui: Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m. at the Wailuku Community Center;Oral and written testimony will be accepted at the hearings. Interested parties may also submit written testimony to the Agriculture Department at 1428 S. King St., Honolulu, HI, 96814-2512 or e-mail to hdoa.board.testimony@hawaii.gov (mark submissions as testimony).
>> Kauai: Nov. 4, 10 a.m. at the Lihue office of the department;
>> Kona: Nov. 5, 10 a.m. at the Kona Civic Center conference room;
>> Hilo: Nov. 6, 9 a.m. State Office Building, conference rooms B & C, Hilo;
>> Oahu: Nov. 7, 1:30 p.m. at the department's Plant Quarantine conference room.
For more information on Hawaii's rabies quarantine programs, go to the Department of Agriculture Web site at: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm. A brochure, checklists, forms and "Frequently Asked Questions" are available on that Web page.
