How to get our dog in Hawaii ?

Question

Hello,
We move to Hawaii in March. Our Airline company refuse to take our dog on the plane. Do you know what airline company accpet dog over 20 pounds ? How did you do for your dog ?
Is ti true that will be difficult to found a house to rent in Oahu where dogs are allowed ?

Answer 1

Have you really looked into what you need to do to bring your dog into Hawaii. It is not easy and can be very expensive. If you are moving in March and you haven't done your research and begun the process your dog is going to end up in quarantine.

All dogs and cats must go through quarantine, it's just a matter of it being 5 days or 120. To qualify for the 5 day program your dog must: have had at least 2 rabies vaccinations during their life, be administered at least 90 days apart, and be admisinstered at least 90 days prior to arrival; be microchipped with your information on file with the microchip company; pass a rabies antibody test, which can only be performed at one of 2 labs in the country (meaning you'll need to have your dog's blood drawn and then overnighted to the lab); the antibody test must be performed no more than 36 months and no less than 120 days prior to arrival; have all vaccinations documented; have a health certificate from the vet issued no more than 14 days prior to arrival, and have various other documentation. Start to finish, it takes aobut 4 months of prep work to qualify for the 5 day quarantine program.

All dogs and cats entering Hawaii must enter through Honolulu (HNL), regarless if they will be staying on Oahu or not. Upon arrival your dog will be taken to a quarantine office and held while all paperwork is processed and the dog is examined. During this process if any paperwork is missing, or your dog fails the examination, it can and most likely will be held for quarantine.

In quarantine you will only be albe to visit your dog during visiting hours, provide all grooming/bathing, check for ticks/fleas, and provide any special food or medication your dog needs. Oh, and you get to pay for the quarantine stay!

As for the airlines, call around and find out what the policy is for dogs traveling in the cargo hold. Most airlines that allow pets in the cabin only allow pets 20 pounds and under. Policies and prices may differ from airline to airline. Keep in mind that your dog will need to travel in a FAA approved carrier and may be prohibited from flying in the cargo hold during certian times of the year when it's too hot or too cold while the plane is sitting on the ground.

I took my service dog to Honolulu while I was there for 2 months. It was not easy getting him there, and once he was there, I found Oahu to not be very dog friendly. Dogs are not permitted in several parks or on the beach, at least in Honolulu/Waikiki where I was. I didn't see many dogs while I was there.

As for housing, many places that accept animals only accept small pets (usually 20/25 pounds or smaller). The condo I stayed in kept a record of the dates my dog would be there and put a picture of him in our file. If you're going to be staying in Honolulu/Waikiki and the surrounding area you may have a challenge finding housing.

I know how much a pet can become a member of the familly. My dog is a child to me. You should really think about the emotional and physical toll the move is going to cause to your dog. If your dog is older or has health issues you may not want to take him with you. It is also very expensive to take your dog. You can expect to spend at least $500 in tests/documentation/fees just to get your dog to Hawaii, not including quarantine fees.

This link will give you all the information you need to take your dog with you. You should also call the department of agrculutre and speak with someone there. The number can be found in the link. http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm

Edited to Add:
I've looked over the above website and the Direct Release program is kinda confusing. I can't tell if it applies only to dogs that live in Hawaii or not. I strongly recommend calling the Dept. of Ag and verifying what the requirements are.

Answer 2

Quarantine is no longer mandatory. There is a program that some animals qualify for in which they can be released to their owners at the airport. However, if you are moving in less than two months, your pet won't qualify. It will have to spend at least 30 days in quarantine, as the previous poster mentioned. The process to get your pet here is costly and tedious. Take great care in the details! Trust me; I've done it.

To answer your other question: yes, it is more difficult to find a place to rent when you have a dog. I just went through that myself on Kauai (and 6 years ago on the Big Island). I'm sorry that I don't have any tips for you on that. You're just going to have to luck out and find a landlord who doesn't mind that you have a pet. There are some out there, so good luck searching!

Aloha :)

PS - If you have someone you can leave your dog with on the mainland (to do quarantine over there instead of here in Hawaii), that will give you a little extra time to find a suitable rental that will accept animals. Just a thought...

Answer 3

Oh thats soon.....make sure you start quarintine TODAY. Call the Oahu Animal Shealter to find out the exact stuff...they'll mail you a packet and answer your questions accurately. and yes, it is hard to find a place to rent in Hawaii with a pet ( i have two cats). Just offer an extra "pet deposit" and make sure to ask when you call initially so you dont waste your time. I've always found a place

Answer 4

No rabies there...but it is not as hard as before (quarantine). It is not the airline...you need to look into the State laws and find out how.

Answer 5

it might be because all dogs going to Hawaii have to be quarantine for up to 30 days

see this website for info:
http://doglaw.hugpug.com/doglaw_043.html
you will be paying a bundle for it!