HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
33 |
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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RESOLUTION
URGING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO ADOPT PROPOSED MODIFICATION OF QUARANTINE PROCEDURES TO REFLECT CURRENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON RABIES PREVENTION.
WHEREAS, ensuring the health and safety of the people of Hawaii is a critical responsibility of state government; and
WHEREAS, diseases such as rabies represent a deadly threat to animals and humans alike; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii’s rabies quarantine began 89 years ago to prevent the entry of rabies into Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, to qualify for entry into Hawaii, pets must have an approved microchip implanted; and
WHEREAS, pets must have rabies vaccines and booster shots and other vaccinations, medically described, and certified by a licensed and practicing veterinarian, with the microchip number recorded; and
WHEREAS, after the last rabies shot, pets must have one blood test (OIE-FAVN) with results of 0.15IU before arrival in Hawaii, showing the rabies inoculation was effective; and
WHEREAS, veterinarian-issued health certificates must be completed no later than 14 days before pet arrival in Hawaii and must include a pet's record of required immunizations and declaration that the pet is parasite-free; and
WHEREAS, pet owners must notify the Hawaii Department of Agriculture Quarantine Station of pet arrival information five working days in advance of arrival and have the required health documents sent to the Quarantine Station directly from the health officials for clearance review; and
WHEREAS, if information is received less than five working days before pet arrival, pets may be held in quarantine while documents are reviewed for compliance; and
WHEREAS, a Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Officer will inspect every animal arriving at Honolulu International Airport and verify that the health papers are in order, scan the microchip, and release the compliant animal to its owner; and
WHEREAS, if there are discrepancies resulting in non-compliance, the animal will be quarantined pending resolution of non-compliance, or will be held in quarantine for up to 120 days until compliance is achieved; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that this body urges the Department of Agriculture to adopt proposed modification of quarantine procedures to reflect current scientific studies on rabies prevention; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Agriculture, the Animal Industry Division of the Department of Agriculture, and the Animal Quarantine Branch of the Department of Agriculture.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
RELATING TO PET QUARANTINE.