Posted on: Friday, September 27, 2002

5-day pet quarantine advanced by ag board

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

A proposal to create a five-day quarantine for certain pets brought into Hawai'i moved a step closer to reality yesterday when the state Board of Agriculture gave preliminary approval to rule changes to the state's often-criticized quarantine system.

The board voted to hold public hearings on the proposal to establish a five-day quarantine for pets that have passed a 120-day, veterinarian-supervised monitoring or waiting period at their previous home before they come to Hawai'i.

The current rules, which were adopted in 1997, require a 90-day waiting period before arrival in Hawai'i, followed by a 30-day quarantine here. In addition, the animals must undergo two tests for rabies, receive at least two rabies vaccinations and have a microchip inserted.

Other pets must remain in quarantine for 120 days.

The five-day quarantine would offer an option to people who are planning a move to Hawai'i and can do the longer monitoring period to shorten the time they will be separated from their pets upon arrival.

State officials have maintained that quarantine is need to ensure that rabies is not introduced into Hawai'i. A quarantine has been in place since 1912 and was shortened only once before.

The state veterinarian, Dr. James Foppoli, said he expects the public hearings on the proposed rule changes to be completed by the end of the year. He said hearings will be scheduled on O'ahu, Kaua'i and Maui, and in Hilo and Kona.

The other rule changes would allow dogs and cats arriving from Guam to be exempted from rabies quarantine because Guam has adopted a program consistent with Hawai'i quarantine. The proposal also would eliminate the OIE-FAVN blood test for rabies and would designate Fipronil as a pre-arrival tick treatment.