Dog owners will be able to travel to Hawaii with their pets more easily now that the state's quarantine rules have been eased. Previously, animals were quarantined for at least one month upon arrival. Effective June 30, pets entering Hawaii may be released in five days or less if their owners meet several pre-arrival requirements. These include documentation of two rabies vaccinations, microchip implantation, and blood serum test results showing the rabies vaccinations were successful. However, due to rabies' long inoculation period, visitors will have to wait 120 days after the blood test is submitted before being eligible for the program. Paperwork must be submitted by pet owners at least ten days before arrival.
AKC has long supported efforts to modernize Hawaii's quarantine program. In fact, we have supported legislative efforts to eliminate the quarantine altogether. A four-month pre-arrival wait is impractical for many dog owners, and we believe that contemporary vaccinations, microchipping techniques and appropriate record-keeping have made the pet quarantine requirement unnecessary.
Still, these changes to the quarantine program will ease the burden on pets and owners alike, and we are relieved to see some positive changes made to this program.
Dog owners will be able to travel to Hawaii with their pets more easily now that the state’s…