Posted on: Saturday, April 19, 2003

EDITORIAL
Pet quarantine rules must emphasize safety

Safety must be the key concern when Gov. Linda Lingle reviews progressive new rules minimalizing the quarantine process for imported pets that have been approved by the state agriculture department.

The impatience of pet owners with the discomforts, inconvenience and expense of quarantine is entirely understandable.

But the greatest concern must be the fear that a rabid animal could come in contact with a mongoose, spreading the disease in the wild.

Thousands of Americans each year undergo expensive, painful treatment after possible exposure to rabies. If bite victims wait for symptoms to appear, the disease is always fatal.

Rabies must be kept from our shores. These rules appear to do the trick, but only if they are enforced rigorously.