Checklist for Moving to Hawaii with Your Pets

Author Alexine

When you move far distances on the mainland with your pets there is not much to do other than have a safe place for them to travel. On the other hand when you move over seas to Hawaii there is a lot to do in order for your pets to travel safely. To help you with the move I have written a checklist for moving to Hawaii with your pet.

Time

The most important thing to have when moving to Hawaii with pets is time. The process of getting them ready to travel over seas takes over four months so try and give yourself leeway. This will take the stress and financial burden of the move off of your shoulders.

Breed

Many cats and dogs are allowed to move onto the Hawaiian Islands however there are breed restrictions. You cannot bring any dogs or cats that are not domestic and bread with or full blood wolf, Dingo, Bengal or Savannah. These types of animals pose a potential threat to people and other animals.

Age

It is very important to consider the age of your animals before deciding to bring them to Hawaii. Traveling can be very hard on animals and cause them to panic or have difficulty with their health. Older animals are not advised to fly on airplanes and young animals have to wait to have their vaccinations completed.

Cost

There are additional fees that come along with bringing your dog or cat to Hawaii. You have to pay for the travel fees along with the vaccinations, medical exam, titer testing, and entry fees. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money per pet when taking them to Hawaii.

Rabies

The state of Hawaii is rabies free and they take great pride in this fact so that is why it is difficult to bring animals there. You have to make sure your pet has had at least two rabies vaccinations in their life that were administered at least thirty days apart. Also the most recent vaccine must have been at least ninety days prior to arrival.

Microchip

Every cat and dog that plans to make the move to Hawaii must have a microchip placed inside them. The microchip is a way to identify the animal and the number is used on their medical records and blood tests.

Titer Test

In order to be certain no animal with rabies will come to Hawaii and infect another animal they require a titer test. This test is called the OIE-FAVN Rabies Blood Test and it has to be sent away to a laboratory. The lab must receive the test at least one hundred and twenty days before the animal is expected to arrive in Hawaii.

Waiting Period

The one hundred and twenty days after the test is received by the laboratory is considered the waiting period. This is approximately four months before you leave for Hawaii so it is important to plan way ahead. Work out a timeline with your veterinarian so the test is administered with time to spare.

Quarantine

If you are not lucky enough to have more than four months to spare and wait for your test, than your animal must be quarantined upon arrival in Hawaii. They do this for families that must move there with little notice and are desperate to have their four legged friends in tow.

Getting Everything Together

Finally after months of waiting and quite a few visits to the vet it is time to go one last time before you travel to Hawaii. This last appointment at the veterinarian is critical and must be done within fourteen days of travel. At the appointment you must obtain signed copies of a health certificate, vaccinations and the OIE-FAVN results. Also your pet must be treated with a tick killing drug containing Fipronil and you need proof from your vet.

With all your original copies signed by the veterinarian you will be good to go. It is quite a lot to do by worth it to bring your furry friend along. Remember to read up on my traveling with pets checklist to understand the other aspects of traveling with pets.