The Hawaii Traveler

Because Hawai’i is a rabies-free state, moving your pooch (or pussy cat) across the puddle to the islands is a more involved affair than, say, sending him to Grandma’s house in Omaha. It’s not impossible, though. Countless transplants have done it, and although it’s not a piece of cake, it’s not Snakes on a Plane, either.

A Primer on what you need to know
1. It takes time

The more time you have to prepare for your moving your mutt, the easier your job will be on you–and your pet. All pets originating from the mainland must participate in one of Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture quarantine programs.

2. There are two such quarantine programs:

• The 5-Day-or-Less Program, which may includes direct release at the airport.
• The 120-Day program

See the checklist for the 5-Day-or-Less Program (this is a PDF file that requires Adobe Acrobat to view it) to see if you and your pet are willing and eligible to participate. Instead of keeping your pet in a facility in Honolulu or other approved facility, the 5 -day quarantine program allows pets to be directly released at the airport–if the pet owner follows strict procedures prior to the pet’s arrival in Hawai’i. Note that it takes at least four months prior to entering the islands to qualify an adult pet that has had at least one rabies vaccination. It takes at least 10 months to qualify a newborn puppy or kitten for this program.

You can also see if your pets qualify for direct release elsewhere: Kona Airport (Big Island), Kahului Airport (Maui) and Lihue Airport (Kauai).

The quarantine for up to 120 days is for animals who are ineligible for the 5-day program, which can include the pet’s age, or failure to comply with the 5-day program protocol. See the Department of Agriculture’s brochure, which covers every detail, such as veterinary care, grooming, feeding, visitation, and other details about what happens in a public or private quarantine facility.

What you’ll need

Be prepared to jump through these hoops to qualify for either program:

• Microchip
• Rabies test
• Vaccinations
• Waiting period
• Documentation

You’ll also need a certificate of health from your vet, and you’ll want to consider coordinating your pet’s release with the facilities operating hours and holidays. And since your pet is entering a radical new climate, you’ll need to consider protecting him from heatworm, ticks, fleas, and other parasites. Using the checklists will keep you from becoming overwhelmed with the devils in the details.

To sedate or not?
Sedating your four-legged friend during the long flight is a hotly debated topic, to be sure. Make an informed decision by speaking to your vet, getting a second opinion if necessary, and speaking to others who have transported their furry ones. Check Yahoo Groups for listserves dedicated to pets, Hawai’i, or a collection of just plain folks who like to help.

Moolah
What will it cost to ship your pet over the rainbow connection? Your costs and mileage may vary, but the workup from your vet at home will cost you something in the neighborhood of $500, depending on your vet and whether you’ve already ponied up for a microchip. Then there’s the airfare for your dog, which actually gets him/her from point A to point B. And you’ll need an airline animal crate or kennel. The actual quarantine, if it’s required, is additional, and can run as much as $1,500 for the stay.

Other considerations
You may decide that your pup is too young, too old, or is not in good enough health to make the journey and endure the moving. It’s not just one trip, it’s a whole move that can really puzzle any pet.

The forbidden pet
There are certain breeds of dogs and cats that cannot enter Hawaiian territory. Those include non-domestic dogs and cats, and hybrids, such as wolf, wolf cross, Dingo, Bengal, Savannah, and others. Siegfried and Roy are out of luck I guess; the rest of us are probably OK.

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