This post is especially dedicated to travel with your Service Dog to the State of Hawaii. The Hawaiian regulations are especially demanding, and good preparation is required to get through all the bureaucratic red-tape, and actually be able to get off the ship with your service dog.
Hawaii is especially concerned about the rabies virus entering the islands. Hawaii is rabies-free, and has a population of animals that may be especially susceptible to eradication by the rabies virus, including the "Hawaiian squirrel", the Indian Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus). Often seen running across the road, the mongoose was brought to the Hawaiian Islands in 1883 to control rats.
Under the "modified" program for Guide and Service dogs, there is no required quarantine or waiting period. In contrast, typically, dogs and cats have to be quarantined for up to 120 days on arrival, unless they qualify for the newer “5 days or less” quarantine program. Note that only dogs serving a medical disability are allowed to enter under the “modified” no-quarantine program. This does not include dogs that are for emotional support, comfort, or therapy; the latter must enter as regular pets under Hawaii’s “5 day or less” program as they are not classified as service dogs.
In order to qualify under the no-quarantine program, about 3 months before your trip, you should start getting the paperwork in order. In order to be admitted into Hawaii under the “modified” program for Guide and Service dogs (no quarantine or waiting period required), here is what you will need (effective as on January 1, 2012):
At least 3 months Before Embarkation:
Microchip. Your dog must have an electronic microchip implanted for identification. (AVID, Home Again, or Bayer ResQ are preferable - if using another brand of microchip please check if it will be accepted with the Hawaiian system). See also my blog post: Making Sure Your Dog Has Identification Tags!
Rabies Vaccination. Your dog must have current rabies vaccination. (Documentation of the vaccination must include the product name, the lot or serial number, and the expiration date of the lot.) See also my blog post: Health Certificates and Other Required Documentation
Rabies Test. Most cruise lines and other transportation companies do not require a rabies test, but some destinations do! Specifically, Hawaii requires that prior to arrival the dog must have passed one OIE-FAVN test after 12 months of age, with a level of 0.5 I.U. rabies antibody or greater. A passing test result is valid for three (3) years. The laboratory will not perform the tests unless the microchip number accompanies the test request form. What they didn’t tell me, was that the test requires 25 days to complete! I found out the hard way, that … for an extra fee… the test can be expedited, but still takes approximately 14 days for the expedited results. (By the way, the test isn’t cheap! Count on at least $200 for the test, and an extra $100 for expediting!) My strong recommendation is that this special test be performed at least three months in advance of your travel to allow enough time for test completion, and allow enough time, just in case something goes wrong with the test! See also my blog post: Health Certificates and Other Required Documentation
14 Days Before Embarkation
Flea and Tick Control. While most destinations do not require this, Hawaii does require certification by your veterinarian of your dog being treated with a long-acting tick controller. Hawaii requires a health certificate issued not more than 30 days prior to arrival, attesting that the dog was treated within 14 days of arrival with a product containing Fipronil or an equivalent long-acting product labeled to kill ticks.
USDA Health Form 7001. Hawaii also requires the USDA Form 7001 signed by your dog’s veterinarian. Basically, the USDA Form 7001 is a restatement of all the information found on the normal veterinarian’s health certificate, but on a government form: USDA Form 7001. Hawaii does not require the form to be endorsed by the USDA. See also my blog post: Another Form! USDA Health Form 7001
Physician’s Statement of Your Disability. For a service dog, there must be a letter from your physician stating the need for the animal and what it does for you to mitigate or service your disability. It needs to be on the Doctor's letterhead and not on a prescription pad. (OR a certificate of training of the service dog by a training program accredited by Assistance Dogs International, Inc., or a service dog training program with equally rigorous administrative, operational and training standards.) Again, the dog must serve a medical disability, dogs that are for emotional support, comfort, or therapy will not qualify.See also my blog post: Health Certificates and Other Required Documentation
Vet Health Certificate - Recommended (not required): A signed health certificate by your veterinarian in addition to the Form 7001 above.
7 Days Before Embarkation
Fed Ex, or fax all your paperwork with your itinerary to Animal Quarantine Station Hawaii: Animal Quarantine Station, 99-851 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, HI 96701 or fax to (808) 483-7161. They do require original signatures on everything. Double check you have met all the requirements posted at http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/guide-service-dogs-entering-hawai-i
If you are entering Hawaii on an island other than Oahu, you will be required to obtain Neighbor Island Inspection Permit. You must request this when you are submitting your documents to quarantine.
The day you arrive (if in Honolulu), you will be met by a Hawaiian governmental authority from the AQS Hawaii Agency. S/he will check your dog’s microchip and the paperwork: Make sure you have the originals with you if you have not already sent them ahead, and be sure to carry copies! The process should take no more than 10 minutes, and you are on your way!
A Cautionary Tale: If you do not arrive in Honolulu, or you arrive on a federal holiday, you may face additional hurdles. I sorted through all of the above requirements for Asta, and got all the paperwork in on time! Yet, when our cruise ship landed in Hilo on the island of Oahu on December 26th (the day after Christmas), Asta was not allowed to disembark… nor the day after in Kauai. Government bureaucracy!! Grrr.
The 26th was a federal holiday, so there was no one available from AQS Hawaii to come to the ship. AQS Hawaii had advised me that I would need to hire a properly certified veterinarian to come to the ship to check Asta out, but the only certified veterinarian in Hilo was on vacation. In Kauai, there was no certified veterinarian on the island. We did hire a nice veterinarian on Maui who met us at the dock, and sorted Asta out. We were free! And free of $400 more for the cost of the veterinarian to come and clear Asta. Frankly, I am not sure this is legal under the ADA, but we did get clear to enjoy our final days in Hawaii.
If you are overwhelmed by all the requirements, you may want to contact a veterinary service in Hawaii directly to walk you through. As I mentioned above, we hired a private certified veterinary service who was very good (although pricey): South Shore Veterinary Care: http://vetinkihei.com/custom_content/c_181623_rabies_quarantine.html
They will take care of all the paperwork for you in advance. Aloha!
