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Guide & Service Dogs Entering Hawai`i

THE HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE ISLAND OF O`AHU IS THE ONLY PORT OF ENTRY FOR ALL DOGS AND CATS ENTERING HAWAI`I UNLESS A VALID NEIGHBOR ISLAND INSPECTION PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.  THIS INCLUDES GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS.

GUIDE DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS THAT MEET THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS CAN COME INTO HAWAI`I WITHOUT QUARANTINE PROVIDED THEY FOLLOW THE STEPS OUTLINED BELOW.

"Guide dog" means any dog individually trained by a licensed guide dog trainer for guiding a blind person by means of a harness attached to the dog and a rigid handle grasped by the person.

"Service dog" means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, provided the work or tasks are directly related to the individual’s disability.  The work or tasks include but are not limited to: assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behavior.  The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

KEY POINTS FOR QUALIFYING AS A SERVICE DOG
OR AN EXEMPTED GUIDE DOG

  • The 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.)
  • The dog must have an electronic microchip implanted for identification.
  • 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.  The laboratory will not perform the tests unless the microchip number accompanies the test request form. A passing test result is valid for three (3) years.  
  • The dog must have a standard health certificate issued not more than 30 days prior to arrival in Hawai`i, 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. A valid health certificate is required for each entry into Hawai`i.

  • For a service dog, there must be a physician’s statement which certifies the user is disabled and the service dog is required because of the user’s disability (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); and what tasks the animal has been trained to perform.

  • To prevent delays on arrival, it is strongly advised that all required documents be sent to the Rabies Quarantine Branch well ahead of your intended arrival date.  Information can be mailed to the Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, HI  96701 or faxed to (808) 483-7161.  Staff may be contacted by telephone (808) 483-7151 or (808) 837-8092 or e-mail: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov to assist you with preparations.     
  • The Rabies Quarantine Branch must receive notification at least 24 hours in advance of arrival information and location where the dog will be staying. Information can be faxed to 808-483-7161.
  • On arrival in Hawai`i, the dog must be brought by the airline to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility for verification of compliance with the above requirements and examination of the dog for external parasites.  If all is in order, the dog will be released at that point.
  • Qualified Guide dog and Service dog users may request inspection in the terminal at Honolulu International Airport between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, by notifying the Rabies Quarantine Branch 7 days or more before arriving.  In these cases, a “Notice of Terminal Inspection” with tracking number will be issued and sent to the user.  To avoid confusion and delays, this Notice must be presented to airline representatives upon arrival in Hawai`i.  After inspection, if all is in order, the dog will be released.

 

If you have questions, please contact:

Hawai`i Department of Agriculture
Animal Quarantine Station
99-951 Halawa Valley Street
Aiea, Hawai`i 96701-5602
Telephone (808) 483-7151
FAX (808) 483-7161
E-mail:  rabiesfree@hawaii.gov

 

 

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