Plan eases quarantine rules for local pets
By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
It will be easier for Hawai'i pet owners to take Mainland trips with their pets under a proposal that received preliminary approval yesterday from the Board of Agriculture.
Advertiser library photo • April 5, 2003
The board voted to hold public hearings on the elimination of the 120-day waiting period for animals that originate in Hawai'i. The waiting period is unnecessary because it is designed to detect incubating rabies in vaccinated pets and rabies is not present in Hawai'i.
The Board of Agriculture yesterday voted to hold hearings on ending the 120-day waiting period for pets returning to Hawai'i after a trip to the Mainland with their owners.
The current quarantine rules, approved last month by Gov. Linda Lingle, allow pets from the Mainland to have a quarantine of five days or less if they meet strict requirements.
Under those rules, Hawai'i pets that meet current requirements would not be subject to quarantine upon return, but they must still pass the 120-day waiting period. That can be done long before a trip or in combination with time spent on the Mainland.
Under the proposal yesterday, animals that have two vaccinations before travel to the Mainland would be able to return to Hawai'i without quarantine. The exception to that would be if they were found to have exotic parasites. Those animals would have to stay five days or less in quarantine.
Public hearings must still be approved by the governor.
State Veterinarian James Foppoli said hearings could be held as early as September.
"It's a logical, clear change that has to be made," Foppoli said. "The big downside to animals locally is they tend not to be vaccinated against rabies."
Any Hawai'i animals being taken on trips would have to have a microchip implanted to identify them, as well as two vaccinations at least 90 days apart.
The new board proposed re-entry fees of $78 for direct release and $110 for a five-day quarantine for parasites.
The Hawaiian Humane Society supports the changes.
"I think it will affect people who are part-time residents first," said Eve Holt, Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman. "There are people who want to travel with their pets."
Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.
