Need family style living in Oahu
Feb 20th, 2007, 03:53 PM
#22
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Besides being up to date on rabies shots the cats need to undergo some very specialized blood tests that have to be sent to a lab in the Midwest. The cats also need to be microchipped (chips must be obtained from Hawaii.)
We were lucky becuase when we moved to Hawaii we moved straight into a home we had purchased on a previous house hunting trip. Three weeks before we moved we shipped the yowling cats via air cargo, quarantine picked them up, and they stayed in Aiea for 30 days. We visited them upon arrival in Hawaii before we left for a neighbor island. At the time the Oahu quarantine station had very limited visiting hours and there were no neighbor island facilities.
Anyway, it was a long, convoluted process but the cats loved living in Hawaii, they especially liked chasing the birds and geckos. Husband's company paid for the expenses (approx $2K for vets, 30 day quarantines, and shipping!)
We were lucky becuase when we moved to Hawaii we moved straight into a home we had purchased on a previous house hunting trip. Three weeks before we moved we shipped the yowling cats via air cargo, quarantine picked them up, and they stayed in Aiea for 30 days. We visited them upon arrival in Hawaii before we left for a neighbor island. At the time the Oahu quarantine station had very limited visiting hours and there were no neighbor island facilities.
Anyway, it was a long, convoluted process but the cats loved living in Hawaii, they especially liked chasing the birds and geckos. Husband's company paid for the expenses (approx $2K for vets, 30 day quarantines, and shipping!)
Feb 20th, 2007, 06:00 PM
#23
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Thank you everyone! I had almost forgotten about the microchip. I just saw a sign this evening at Pet Quarter that said they have a rabies clinic on March 3rd. We may take advantage of that. I had never thought of sending them ahead of time, something to consider. Thanks for the encouragement for being able to get housing with cats. We can't imagine life with them.
Mahalo,
Tammy
Mahalo,
Tammy
Feb 20th, 2007, 08:24 PM
#24
Tammy-
Here is the link for the cat import process:
http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm
This is the checklist:
http://www.hawaiiag.org/AQS/aqs-checklist-5.pdf
If you do the rabies tests, chipping, and health certificate properly, you can bring the cats with you. As long as your flight arrives during hours when the Ag inspectors are working, you just get the cats and their paperwork inspected, pay $165 and do not have to put your cats in quarantine. If there are small problems, you may need to have the cats quarantined for up to 5 days at $224.
You do not want the cats to go into the 120 day quarantine if there is any possible way to avoid it! Not only does it cost $1,080 per pet (plus all the other fees), it involves them staying in separate kennels in Halawa valley. You can only see them during certain hours of the day (mornings and afternoons, no Monday or Friday visits), and lots of pets get sick and or slightly neurotic after being "locked up".
Remember also that many airlines will not allow pets on Mainland flights that have stops, especially during very hot or cold months.
Not to scare you, but the quarantine is really not good for pets, and so I hope you'll be able to do the 5-or-less program.
We're actually in the process at the moment as our daughter's dog will be coming home to Hawaii in May.
Sorry, I didn't mean to got off the topic of your housing, but I have watched pets be quarantined over the years and it is not what I'd choose for my pets.
Here is the link for the cat import process:
http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm
This is the checklist:
http://www.hawaiiag.org/AQS/aqs-checklist-5.pdf
If you do the rabies tests, chipping, and health certificate properly, you can bring the cats with you. As long as your flight arrives during hours when the Ag inspectors are working, you just get the cats and their paperwork inspected, pay $165 and do not have to put your cats in quarantine. If there are small problems, you may need to have the cats quarantined for up to 5 days at $224.
You do not want the cats to go into the 120 day quarantine if there is any possible way to avoid it! Not only does it cost $1,080 per pet (plus all the other fees), it involves them staying in separate kennels in Halawa valley. You can only see them during certain hours of the day (mornings and afternoons, no Monday or Friday visits), and lots of pets get sick and or slightly neurotic after being "locked up".
Remember also that many airlines will not allow pets on Mainland flights that have stops, especially during very hot or cold months.
Not to scare you, but the quarantine is really not good for pets, and so I hope you'll be able to do the 5-or-less program.
We're actually in the process at the moment as our daughter's dog will be coming home to Hawaii in May.
Sorry, I didn't mean to got off the topic of your housing, but I have watched pets be quarantined over the years and it is not what I'd choose for my pets.
Feb 20th, 2007, 10:40 PM
#25
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Icuy,
No apologies needed. Your information is going to be so helpful. You are right about not wanting my pets to be in quarantine. 5 days is one thing, but 30 or more is entirely another. The tip about flights needing to be non-stop is also very helpful...I'll be flying from the "Maine land" of the mainland...so non-stop is impossible...but I could hit the Chicago stop and then on to Honolulu. I can't thank you enough for the info.
Tammy
No apologies needed. Your information is going to be so helpful. You are right about not wanting my pets to be in quarantine. 5 days is one thing, but 30 or more is entirely another. The tip about flights needing to be non-stop is also very helpful...I'll be flying from the "Maine land" of the mainland...so non-stop is impossible...but I could hit the Chicago stop and then on to Honolulu. I can't thank you enough for the info.
Tammy
