HONOLULU — The number of dogs and cats qualifying for direct release at Honolulu International Airport has reached 87 percent, since a five-day-or-less rabies quarantine program was implemented a year and a half ago, state officials said Monday. The Department
HONOLULU — The number of dogs and cats qualifying for direct release at Honolulu International Airport has reached 87 percent, since a five-day-or-less rabies quarantine program was implemented a year and a half ago, state officials said Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said 4,097 dogs and cats entered the state between July 1 and Dec. 31, with 3,559 being released after inspection.
“The staff of the quarantine station and at the airport should be recognized for the success of the program,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairwoman 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,” she said.
Hawaii eased its strict rabies quarantine rules in July 2003. Before that, arriving animals faced a minimum 30 days of quarantine in state kennels.
Under the five-day-or-less program, pets may be released at the airport if a number of pre-arrival requirements are met, including two rabies vaccinations. Required paperwork must be received more than 10 days before a pet’s arrival.
Thirty-day and 120-day quarantine programs remain in effect for pets that fail to qualify for the five-day-or-less program.
