ANIMAL
QUARANTINE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
- Why does
Hawaii have a quarantine for dogs, cats and
carnivores?
- How much does
it cost to quarantine my pet?
- How do I
qualify my dog or cat for the 5-day-or-less program?
- What if my
pet arrives in Hawaii before the required waiting
period has elapsed?
- How will I
know if my pet passed the OIE-FAVN test?
- Are there any
exemptions to the quarantine?
- What is the
procedure when my pet arrives in Honolulu?
- Can I visit
my pet after it arrives at the airport?
- I am
transiting through Hawaii to another destination
and will vacation in Hawaii for a short period
with my dog/cat. What do I do?
- Is my pet
allowed to fly with me in the passenger cabin of
the airplane?
- Can I send
my pet prior to my arrival in Honolulu?
- If I am not
in Hawaii, can I designate someone else to look
in on my pet?
- Where is the
Animal Quarantine Station?
- When can I
visit my pet while it is in quarantine?
- Can anyone
visit my pet in quarantine?
- How large
are the kennels?
- Can my pets
be housed together?
- Can my pets
be together during visitation?
- What do I
have to do for my pet to be quarantined under the
120-day program?
- Can my pet
be quarantined on Kauai, Maui or the Big Island?
- My pet has a
medical condition that would be aggravated by
quarantine confinement. What options are
available?
- My pet is arriving from a foreign
country, what are the requirements?
- I live in Hawaii
and want to take my resident pet out of Hawaii for vacation and
return. What do I do so my pet does not have to go through
quarantine upon returning to Hawaii?
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
1. Why does Hawaii have a quarantine for
dogs, cats and carnivores? back to top
Hawaii is the only state that
is rabies-free. It is important that we maintain that
status. The introduction of rabies would have dire
circumstances, not only for public health, but would
have an adverse affect on Hawaii's unique eco-system,
tourism, as well as local lifestyle.
Because Hawaii is rabies free,
resident pets are not required to be vaccinated for
rabies. Should rabies become established in the
state, animal and human health programs and rabies
disease control programs would be very costly for the
citizens of the entire state.
To prevent rabies from entering
the state, the current law requires that dogs, cats
and carnivores complete either the 120-day or 5-day-or-less
rabies quarantine. The law also requires that entire
cost of the rabies quarantine program be paid by the
users of the quarantine facility. General funds
(taxpayer funds) may not be used to run this program.
2. How much does it cost to quarantine my
pet? back to top
The 120-day quarantine program costs
$1,080 per pet.
The 5-day-or-less quarantine program costs $224 per pet.
The direct release program costs $165 per pet.
There are no discounts for
multiple pets. The law requires that the program be
self-sustaining and paid solely by the users of
quarantine.
The U.S. Department of Defense
will reimburse active duty military members with dogs
or cats at $550 per family for quarantine expenses.
Military members should check with their command on
how to receive the allotment.
Prices are subject to change.
3. How do I qualify my dog or cat for the
5-day-or-less quarantine? back to top
There are several pre-shipment
requirements that must be completed to qualify for
the 30-day quarantine (for more detailed information,
please see the Rabies Quarantine Brochure):
- The pet must have been
administered at least two rabies vaccines in its
lifetime. The second vaccination must have been
administered no less than 90 days after the first
vaccination. In addition, the most recent vaccination
must have been given no less than 90 days, and no
more than 12 months prior to arrival in Hawaii for 12 month licensed
vaccines and no less than 90 days and no more than 36 months prior
to arrival in Hawaii for 3-year licensed vaccines;
- The pet should be microchipped
for identification with either the AVID or Home Again
brand microchip. The microchip is required to
identify the pet with the blood sample;
- A blood sample must be sent
to an approved laboratory for the OIE-Flourescent
Antibody Serum Neutralization Test (OIE-FAVN), which
tests for the adequate response to the rabies
vaccine. A test result >0.5 IU/ml is
required; and
- The pet must complete the required waiting
period from the date the laboratory receives the blood sample
before it may enter the state under the following programs:
- 5-day-or-less quarantine - requires 120-day
pre-arrival waiting period.
If the pre-arrival
requirements are not met, then the pet will not qualify for the
program and must complete
a more lengthy quarantine program.
See FAQs for the 5-day-or-less program.
4. What if my pet arrives in Hawaii
before the required waiting period has elapsed? back to top
If your pet arrives before the
required waiting period has elapsed, your pet will not qualify for
the shorter quarantine program. Your pet must remain in
quarantine until it has completed the 120-day waiting period after
passing an OIE-FAVN rabies serological test. Your pet must
also remain in quarantine until at least 90 days has passed after
the most recent rabies vaccination. You will be charged $14.30
for each day in quarantine, plus $224 in these situation.
5. How will I know if my pet passed the
OIE-FAVN test? back to top
The laboratories send the test
results directly to the Animal Quarantine Station and
to your veterinarian. In most cases, your
veterinarian will have the results before the
quarantine station can post it on the department's
website at:
www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/aqs_microchip.htm. The website will also indicate the
earliest date your pet can enter Hawaii and qualify
for the 5-day-or- less quarantine based on the 120-day waiting
period. Be aware that the two required rabies vaccinations
must also be in compliance for a pet to qualify for the
5-day-or-less program.
The website is updated weekly;
although during peak periods or staffing shortages,
the interval between updates may be as long as three
or four weeks. If you are anxious to learn of the
results, you may ask you veterinarian's office to
contact you when the results are received.
6. Are there any exemptions to the
quarantine? back to top
The law allows exemption to
quarantine confinement for:
Ø Guide dogs for the blind and certified
service dogs for the disabled. Guide and service dogs
must complete pre-shipment requirements including
having a current rabies vaccination, passing an OIE-FAVN rabies blood test
prior to arrival in Hawaii with > 0.5 IU/ml and certification. For more
information on guide and service dogs, go to the
website at: www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_guidedog.htm.
Ø Dogs and cats from New Zealand,
Australia, Guam and the British Isles. To import a dog or
cat from these specific rabies-free areas to Hawaii, an import
permit number is not required. However, if the exporting country
requires an import permit number before they export a pet to Hawaii, call the Animal Quarantine Station at (808)
483-7151 or e-mail a message to:
[email protected]
7. What is the procedure when my pet
arrives in Honolulu? back to top
Honolulu is the only port of
entry for all animals. All animals must arrive in
Honolulu for inspection and quarantine.
Dogs and cats arriving in
Honolulu will be taken from the aircraft by airline
personnel and delivered to the Airport Animal
Quarantine Holding Facility. Pets are taken out of
their carriers and placed in indoor kennels and
provided with fresh water. Food may be provided at
owner's request.
Pets arriving during the day
are transferred to the main Animal Quarantine Station
in Halawa Valley on one of two van runs each day. If
your pet arrives after 3:00 p.m. it will spend the
night at the airport facility and will be transferred
to the main Animal Quarantine Station the next
morning.
8. Can I visit my pet after it arrives at
the airport? back to top
If you are concerned about how
your pet endured the flight, brief visual inspection
of your pet is allowed at the Airport Animal
Quarantine Holding Facility. The office is located at
the Ewa Service Road that runs between the
interisland terminal and the main terminal.
Owners may also call the
airport facility for an update on their pet. The
phone number is (808) 837-8092. The facility is
staffed 24-hours a day.
9. I am transiting through Hawaii to
another destination and will vacation in Hawaii for a
short period with my dog/cat. What do I do? back to top
Pets in transit must stay in
quarantine for the duration of your stay. The airline
will bring the pet from the airplane to the Airport
Animal Quarantine Holding Facility and the pet will
be transferred to the main Animal Quarantine Station
in Halawa Valley. Your pet will also require a health
certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian
within 14 days prior to arrival in Honolulu.
The cost per pet is currently
$45 administrative fees, plus $14.30 per day for food
and kenneling.
You may pay for the fees at the
Airport office or you may go to the
main Quarantine Station the day after you arrive and
pay the fees by cash, VISA or MasterCard, or
travelers check.
Be sure that the staff knows
your departure information at least 72-hours prior to
your departure so the pet can be brought back to the
airport in time for your flight. Remind the airline
to pick up your pet when you check in at the airport.
If your pet is laying over
in Honolulu for a period less than 24 hours, you
must call the Animal Port in advance of your arrival
to schedule them to house your pet. The phone number
for Animal Port is (808) 833-2049 or (808) 946-2187
ext. 2. Animal Port is a service provided by the
Hawaiian Humane Society and is not affiliated with
the State Animal Quarantine program.
10. Is my pet allowed to fly with me in
the passenger cabin of the airplane? back to top
The Department of Agriculture
does not have any regulation regarding where pets fly
within the aircraft. It is totally up to each
airline's policy. The airline is required by law to
bring all incoming animals directly from the plane to
the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility.
Animals still under quarantine
which are transiting from the Airport Animal
Quarantine Holding Facility to an approved outer
island satellite quarantine facility or approved
veterinary hospital are not permitted to fly
in-cabin. If medical issues require this, special
arrangements will need to be made with the Airport
Animal Quarantine Holding Facility to arrange for an
inspector to accompany the animal in this instance.
11. Can I send my pet prior to my arrival
in Honolulu? back to top
You do not have to be present
when your pet arrives. Label your pet's airline
carrier with the full names of the owner and any
co-owner. Include complete addresses and phone
numbers to be used in case of emergency.
A notarized Dog and Cat Import Form
(AQS-278) should be sent ahead of your pet's arrival so
that the information will be on file. Only the name(s) appearing on the Shipmaster's Declaration
form will be recognized as the legal owners of your
pet for the purposes of quarantine.
12. If I am not in Hawaii, can I
designate someone else to look in on my pet? back to top
You may designate someone in
Hawaii to be responsible for your pet by listing them
as a co-owner on the Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-278).
This authorizes the person to visit the pet and to
act on the owner's behalf.
You may also send a notarized letter to the
Animal Quarantine Station authorizing a person to visit your pet.
Please include the ID number of this person in the letter.
13. Where is the Animal Quarantine
Station? back to top
The Animal Quarantine Station
is located in Halawa Valley at 99-951 Halawa Valley
Street. The phone number is: (808) 483-7151. The fax
number is: (808) 483-7161
For information about bus
transportation to the facility, call The Bus at
848-5555.
14. When can I visit my pet while it is
in quarantine? back to top
Visiting hours at the
quarantine station are:
Tuesdays, Thursdays: 1:00 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(The station is closed for
visitation on state holidays, Mondays and Fridays)
15. Can anyone visit my pet in
quarantine? back to top
No. Only registered owners or
designated co-owners will be allowed to visit your
pet, including designated handlers. An AQS-issued
visitor pass must be obtained and a valid photo
identification must be presented at each visit.
All visits are strictly in the
kennel. You may not remove your pet from the kennel.
16. How large are the kennels? back to top
Dogs are assigned according to
their size. Kennels are about 6 feet wide and vary in
length from 14 feet (small dogs) to 25 feet (large
dogs) and are seven feet high. Each kennel has a run
in front and a completely sheltered area in the back.
Cat kennels are about 5 feet
wide and 10 feet long and include platforms, a
completely sheltered area and a catwalk.
Each dog and cat kennel
contains a bench for visitor seating.
17. Can my pets be housed together? back to top
Pets are housed separately in
order for staff to monitor feeding and elimination of
each pet.
Pets of the same species may be
housed together if the owner accepts full
responsibility for the daily feeding, cleaning,
health monitoring, medicating and grooming of their
pets during quarantine. Persons agreeing to provide
"Complete Care" must attend to their pet's
needs seven days a week. (See brochure for more
information)
18. Can my pets be together during
visitation? back to top
Owners may be authorized to
move their pets to the same kennel during regular
afternoon visits under the Multiple Pet Visitation
(MPV) program. The owner must attend MVP orientation
session and submit the MPV Visitation Request Form to
the veterinary staff for approval. Pets must be of
the same species.
19. What do I have to do for my pet to be
quarantined under the 120-day program? back to top
Your pet will need to have a
health certificate issued by an accredited
veterinarian within 14 days prior to your pet's
arrival in Honolulu. Your pet should also have a
record of a current rabies and standard vaccinations
against common infectious diseases, be free of
parasites, treated for ticks and external parasites.
(See brochure for details on specific vaccinations).
20. Can my pet be quarantined on Kauai,
Maui or the Big Island? back to top
There are two satellite
quarantine stations on the neighbor islands. Owners
must make prior arrangements with these privately run
facilities.
Kauai: Kauai Humane Society
P.O. Box 3330
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 632-0610
Big Island: Bar-King Dog Kennel
P.O. Box 1184
Keaau, HI 96749
Phone: (808) 966-8733
There are no satellite facility
on Maui, Molokai or Lanai. However, there are
approved animal hospitals on Maui, Big Island and
Kauai where pets may be quarantined.
Honolulu is the only port of
entry for ALL animals. Your pet must first come to
the Animal Quarantine Station on Oahu for positive
identification and examination. Pets usually
stay in Honolulu at least two* days
before being transferred.
(*
Due to limited number of inter-island flights, pets arriving on
Thursday or Friday may not be transferred until the following
Monday.) In addition to the fees
charged by the satellite facilities, there are also fees that are
must be paid to the state prior to the pet being transferred to the
satellite facility.
- 120-day quarantine costs -
approximately $136 (in addition to satellite
station fees)
21. My pet has a medical condition that
would be aggravated by quarantine confinement. What
options are available? back to top
You may request that your pet be quarantined
in an approved animal hospital.
Owners are responsible for making arrangements
with their preferred animal hospital. A listing of animal
hospitals approved to accept pets under quarantine is available on
the department's website, click here.
Similar to procedures for pets
going to satellite quarantine facilities, pets
approved to complete quarantine in animal hospitals
must also arrive in Honolulu first to complete entry
requirements and will usually be transported to the
animal hospital in about two days after applicable fees are paid.
22. My pet is arriving from a foreign
country, what are the requirements? back to top
Only pets arriving from the British Isles,
Australia, Guam and New Zealand may qualify for exempt status.
Click here for Checklist
for Pets Arriving from British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand.
All other pets must qualify under one of the other programs or
complete the 120-day program.
23.
I live in Hawaii and want to
take my resident pet out of Hawaii for vacation and return.
What do I do so my pet does not have to go through quarantine upon
returning to Hawaii?
Owners wishing to leave the State of Hawaii with their pets, and
return without extended quarantine, must meet all the requirements
listed for resident dogs and cats originating from Hawaii and
returning for the 5-day-or-less quarantine program. The major
difference for resident pets is in the requirements for the second,
most recent rabies vaccination and successful rabies blood test. In
addition, pet owners must submit the original health certificate
issued by their veterinarian before departure from Hawaii that
contains the pet’s Hawaii address and date of departure.
To insure that
important entry requirements are not overlooked, please use the:
CHECKLIST ONLY FOR RESIDENT DOGS AND CATS ORIGINATING FROM HAWAII
AND RETURNING FOR THE 5-DAY-OR-LESS PROGRAM
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