They say that it takes 6 months to go through the entire process but I would plan on a year so you can also save money so it isn’t a big hit to your bank account! We managed to do it thanks to a great Vet Assistant and a great company’s relocation package. So why does it take so long and where do you start?
Zosimos has no idea about the long journey that he is about to embark on!
The answer begins and ends with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Hawaii is rabies-free. Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. All dogs and cats, regardless of age (puppies and kittens included) or purpose, must comply with Hawaii’s dog and cat import requirements. Luckily, the web can be your best friend when oceans separate you from the state you are moving to! http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info
The next thing to know is that your animals will have to undergo 120 days of “quarantine.” If you follow the checklist on the web, plan accordingly and be patient, the animals can undergo the 120 day quarantine while in the comfort of their own home. At one time all animals had to go thru the 120 day quarantine in Hawaii, in their kennel near the airport. How awful would that be! Because our cats could go through the 120 day quarantine at home we proceeded with our plans.
Zosimos relaxing at his home in Kansas, the night before moving to Hawaii
Rabies Vaccinations: Your animal must have been vaccinated at least twice in its lifetime and these must have been more than 30 days apart. The last shot has to be given more than 90 days before the animal arrives in Hawaii. The pet’s most recent vaccination must not be expired when the animal arrives in Hawaii.
Microchip: Your pet must have an electronic microchip implanted. This also has to be done before the blood test is performed, and I haven’t gotten to that part yet. And you also have to ensure that the microchip has been scanned by a Vet to verify that it is working and that the number matches the documentation. They mark this as important on the form so I am guessing people have gotten microchips implanted and then they didn’t work. Go figure!
Achates has no idea what he is about to experience!
Blood Test: This part can be technical. For example I could tell you that the OIE-FAVN Rabies Blood Test results must be greater than or equal to 0.5 IU/ml. But leave that to the Kansas State University or the DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas. In simple terms you have to have your Vet draw blood from your pet and send it to KSU for tests to prove that your pet doesn’t have rabies. Oh, and make sure the blood samples reach K-State more than 120 days but less than 36 months before your pet arrives in Hawaii.
I warned you that you had to be organized! Luckily our Vet Assistant was used to handling animals moving from country to country so this was a tad easier than that!
Then again, maybe Achates does know about his upcoming journey and is trying to talk Dad out of it!
Quarantine or Waiting Period: Early arrival into Hawaii will mean that your pet is disqualified from the airport release program and will have to undergo quarantine at the facility. This would be horrible! Bottom line is this: once you get the good blood test result your pet must wait at least 120 days before arriving in Hawaii. Luckily, our cats were able to do this in the comfort of our home in Kansas!
Documents: Remember that you are dealing with a government body so there is lots of paperwork that must be completed properly, submitted to the right place at the right time with the right money! If you do this, have all papers completed in BLUE ink. Trust me that this will save you time and frustration in the end. So what papers do you need? Ready? Original ink signature rabies vaccination certificate for the two most recent rabies vaccinations your pet received. These must be in English and have specific information like vaccine name, lot or serial number and so on. An original health certificate, once again in English, must be done within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii. Also within 14 days of arrival you must have your Vet treat your pet for ticks and this must be noted on the health certificate. All documents, except the Health certificate must be sent to Hawaii more than 10 days before your pet arrives in Hawaii. Oh, and yes, there are forms on the Hawaii web site that also have to be completed, notarized and submitted as well.
The window seat in Hawaii is ready and waiting!
Let’s review the documents needed:
Completed Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-278 which must be notarized.
2 original rabies vaccination certificates with actual veterinarian signature in ink.
Cashier’s check for $165 to $224. One check for each animal.
Pet’s microchip number.
Keep copies of everything just incase!
Direct Release at Airport: This can only be done between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:30 pm due to budget cutbacks. If your pet arrives after 3:30 pm it will have to be held at the facility until the next day. Once again, awful! Your pet will only be released to someone listed on Form AQS-278 that you had to have filled out and notarized. The original health certificate should travel with your pet.
The litter box is filled and waiting!
So, do you still want to send your pet to Hawaii? Because we aren’t done yet! We’ve only got the paperwork taken care of and I really skimmed over it. There is a twenty some page document on the web that goes into great detail about everything that has to be done and completed! So, now we need to think about the cats and what they will travel in. Of course any old pet carrier will not do. You have to have one that is FAA approved and big enough but not too big. For our cats we were told to have one that they can stand up in, turn around in and still be comfortable. And there can’t be any openings on the top of the crate. The brand Pet Taxi was recommended and we had one so we went with that in a medium size. And one crate per animal; you can’t double up animals in crates no matter the size. Then you have to have 2 water dishes that can be attached to the inside of each crate. It was recommend that we fill them with water in advance and freeze the dishes before transport. This way, as the cats travel the water will thaw and be there if they need it. You’ll also want to put lots of shredded paper or potty pads in the bottom of the crates because you know there will be messes. Oh, and include a t-shirt or towel with a scent familiar to the pet in the crate. Brent put t-shirts of his that he had slept in, in each crate to help comfort the cats. It is also recommended that you attach a small baggy with some hard food to the crate just in case. I doubt our cats will eat or drink anything during their transport but its there in case. And I took it one step further! I made Brent tape a current, color picture of the cat to the top of the crate. Just incase there was an escape or something!
Whew! I think I covered everything! Oh, what about the plane ticket? Duh! Because Hawaii is a quarantine state the animals are not allowed to travel in the same cabin as passengers; they have to travel with the luggage. Yes, this was very upsetting to me and I asked lots of questions of anyone who would listen. I was promised that the temperature and air pressure is maintained in the luggage compartments and that our cats would not be exposed to extreme temperatures. I also learned that it is best to let the cats travel alone and not with a person. This allows the people arranging everything to concentrate on the cats comfort and needs and not be bothered with the people.
Cat perches have been bought, assembled and waiting to be torn up!
Did you catch that? This allows the people arranging everything to concentrate on the cats. We were very fortunate to have a company hired for us to help coordinate the entire process. This is the part where they really worked. There are NO direct flights from Kansas to Hawaii. And try getting two cats from Kansas to Hawaii during the heat of the summer! There is a potential for the cats to spend time on a tarmac in the heat which can be deadly. Also remember that I am writing this the night before our cats begin their journey so I only know what I know until now. I am going on pure faith in the company hired to coordinate this, the airline and God. I could easily point out all sorts of horror stories about animals who have been transported by air; and one very recently from Hawaii who didn’t survive. But there are also lots of animals who have travelled and never had a problem. So continued prayers until you see an update, please!
So here is the game plan for Achates and Zosimos and their journey from Kansas to Hawaii. The boys will get tuna for breakfast the morning of their flight. Brent and his parents will lovingly prepare the boys for departure and the boys will be picked up at home around 2:00 pm CST. The boys will fly from Wichita to Atlanta on Delta airlines. In Atlanta they will be met by an animal service company who will pick the boys up and take them to a facility where they can get out of their crates and be together in a cat condo type setting. The boys will leave Atlanta at 10:50 the following morning and fly directly to Hawaii. They should arrive in Honolulu around 2:30 Hawaii time. Once in Hawaii they will be picked up by two agents of the Little Friends Pet Care and they will see that the boys pass inspection and are released. From there Little Friends Pet Care will then transport the boys to my apartment. I’m getting excited and teary eyed just typing this part. I will leave work around 3:00 pm and anxiously be waiting at home for my boys. I also plan to work from home on Friday so I can observe the boys and ensure they are doing good physically and mentally.
Even bought the "As Seen on TV-Cat Emery Board" for the boys!
So there you have it. The process from beginning to end of how to get two cats from Kansas to Hawaii. I plan to take pictures of the arrival Thursday and everything that happens that night and Friday. I’ll update this blog as quickly as possible incase others are interested. So please continue to pray for Achates and Zosimos’s safe travel to Hawaii!
Until then, love and hugs to my faithful followers; if your still out there!
Do I have enough toys for the boys?
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