News Release: February 14, 2005

Posted on Feb 14, 2005 in 2005 News Releases, News-Releases

For Immediate Release: February 14, 2005 NR05-02

QUARANTINE RULES RESULT IN MAJORITY OF ARRIVING DOGS AND CATS RELEASED AT AIRPORT

 HONOLULU – Since the implementation of the 5-Day-or-Less rabies quarantine program a year-and-a-half ago, the number of dogs and cats qualifying for direct release at the airport has reached 87 percent. 

Statistics released today by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) indicate that during the first half of fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004), 4,097 dogs and cats entered the State through the rabies quarantine program.  The statistics also show that 3,559 pets, or about 87 percent of arriving pets were released after inspection at Honolulu International Airport under the 5-Day-or-Less quarantine program.

“The staff at the quarantine station and at the airport should be recognized for the success of the program,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture.  “Since the program’s implementation a year-and-a-half ago,  there has been tremendous increase in the amount of paperwork, the number of public inquiries and animal entries.”

The following is a breakdown of data for the first six months of fiscal year 2005 (July 2004 to December 2004):

Program

Number of dogs & cats

Percentage

Direct release at airport

3,559

87%

5-days or less

128

3%

30-day quarantine

116

2.8%

120-day quarantine

294

7.2%

TOTAL

4,097

100%

 

The Five-Day-or-Less quarantine program went into effect on June 30, 2003, with further modifications added in February 2004. 

Under the Five-Day-or-Less program, pets may be released at Honolulu International Airport if they complete pre-arrival requirements, which include:

·         Two rabies vaccinations, with the last vaccination administered no more than 12 months prior to arrival if it was a one-year vaccine, or no more than 18 months prior to arrival if it was a three-year vaccine.  (The two vaccinations may not be administered less than 90 days of each other; and the most recent vaccine must be administered no less than 90 days prior to the pet’s entry into the state);

·         Microchip implantation for identification purposes;

·         Blood serum (OIE-FAVN) rabies test results with > 0.5 U/mil level of rabies antibodies;

·         120-day pre-arrival waiting period between the time the lab receives the blood sample and the earliest date the pet may enter the state under the new program.  (The pre-arrival waiting period is necessary due to the long and variable length of rabies incubation, where the virus may hide in an animal before clinical signs of the disease become apparent.); and,

·         Required paperwork must be received more than 10 days prior to the pet’s arrival.

The 30-day and the 120-day quarantine programs remain in effect for pets that do not qualify under the 5-day-or-less rules. Fees for the Five-Day-or-Less program are $165 if the pet qualifies for direct release from the airport and $224 if the pet must be held for up to five days in quarantine.  The cost of the 30-day and the 120-day quarantine programs remains at $655 and $1,080, respectively. 

For more information on Hawaii’s rabies quarantine programs, please go to the HDOA website at: /hdoa/ai/aqs/info  An informational brochure, checklists, forms and “Frequently Asked Questions” are available on that webpage.

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For questions regarding rabies quarantine procedures, e-mail the Animal Quarantine Station at: [email protected]

Media contact:

Janelle Saneishi
Public Information Officer
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9560
To E-mail, click here