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Pets

 

Hawaii has always been pet-friendly, and state officials take great measures to assure that each of its four-legged residents remain healthy and strong.

For nearly 100 years, Hawaii's quarantine law has protected pets, their owners and other state residents from the potentially serious health risks associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. The disease might also prove detrimental to Hawaii's unique eco-system, tourism and the local lifestyle, and the process to eliminate it would be very costly.

Hawaii is the only rabies-free state, and the Department of Agriculture's Animal Quarantine Branch ensures that it stays that way. A 120-day quarantine period guarantees that all cats and dogs (kittens and puppies included) and other carnivores are free from the disease. During that period, owners are allowed in-kennel visits and have the option of taking complete care of the pet, including its feeding, grooming and medicating needs.

The Honolulu International Airport is the only point of entry for the state, and pets are quarantined on Oahu at 99-951 Halawa Valley St., Halawa Valley. There are also satellite quarantine stations on the Big Island and Kauai, and approved animal hospitals on Maui, the Big Island and Kauai where pets may be quarantined.

Owners who do not want their little loved ones caged for four months may choose the five-days-or-less option. It allows for the direct release of an animal from the airport (sometimes without quarantine), but requires a number of strict pre-shipment qualifications, including a 120-day pre-arrival waiting period.

The pet must also have been given two rabies shots during its lifetime. The vaccines must be administered more than 90 days apart, and the second shot must be given no less than 90 days and no more than 12 (for one-year vaccines) or 36 months (for three-year vaccines) prior to the pet's arrival in Hawaii.

Other requirements include a microchip (for identification purposes), a blood serum test that proves sufficient levels of rabies antibodies and a recent health certificate from an accredited veterinarian.

But be warned: Pets that do not meet all qualifications or arrive before the 120-day pre-arrival waiting period has elapsed are disqualified from the five-day-or-less program and subject to a longer or costlier quarantine.

The per-animal quarantine costs are $1,080 for the 120-day program, $224 for five days or less and $165 for immediate airport release.

For a comprehensive list of requirements, checklists and other information, call (808) 483-7151 or visit hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info.

Dog Parks

Oahu has a number of dog parks where canines are allowed to roam without leashes. Each park requires that owners pick up after their pets.

McInerny Dog Park is a fenced-off area of grass, trees and tropical foliage at the Hawaiian Humane Society, located at 2700 Waialae Ave. in Honolulu. It is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and most holidays.

Other off-leash dog parks include Bark Park at Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue; Moanalua Dog Park at Moanalua Community Park off Puuloa Road; and Mililani Dog Park at the Mililani Mauka District Park at Park & Ride, 95-1069 Ukuwai St.

Dogs are also allowed at other parks and beaches but must be leashed. For a complete list of locations, visit the Hawaiian Humane Society Web site at hawaiianhumane.org.