The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued its final rule that it hopes will reduce public health risks of the dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV) associated with the importation of dogs into the United States. The final rule addresses the importation of cats as part of overall changes to the regulations affecting both dogs and cats, but the final rule does not require that imported cats be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination and does not substantively change how cats are imported into the United States.
In this final rule, CDC aligns U.S. import requirements for dogs with the importation requirements of other DMRVV-free countries by requiring proof of rabies vaccination and adequate serologic test results from a CDC-approved laboratory. Requirements that need to be met for dogs to be imported include: a microchip, six-month minimum age requirement for admission, and importer submission of a CDC import form. The rule also requires airlines to confirm documentation, provide safe housing for animals, and assist public health officials in determining the cause of an animal’s illness or death.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 13 and is effective August 1, 2024.
Any AVMA member with less than 10 years of professional experience can now get free professional mentoring through MentorVet Connect, brought to you by the AVMA. Learn more.
It’s that time of year again; the Hawaii Pet Expo is coming up on May 4-5, 2024! We’re looking for volunteers to help make this event spectacular for the community!!! All volunteers get FREE t-shirts and a FREE lunch (if they volunteer in the morning of Saturday, May 4 or Sunday, May 5) for helping out! Check out all the volunteer descriptions and slot availability with the email attachment. If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete the volunteer sign-up link HERE no later than April 20, 2024 before 6:00 PM HST. If you have any questions, please email Jerrisa Ching.
HVMA’s Pet Expo 2024 will be held on May 4-5, 2024 from 10am-4pm each day at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Join us for a wide range of informative booths and pet merchandise, keiki crafts, contests, and more! Please bring a few canned goods for donation to the Hawaii Food Bank in lieu of an admission fee.
To register as a vendor for the event, please call 808-845-1762 or send an email.
The HVMA is providing a landing page for resources for veterinarians, technicians, and pet owners called Pono Pet Parents. This information campaign currently focuses on cats, but the hope is that in the future, it can be expanded to dogs and more. Cat owners can learn about how to raise their beloved pets in a thoughtful way that strengthens their bond with their cats, keeps them happy and healthy, and benefits wild animals and our island home.
Resources are grouped by the following sections:
Ensure my cat has a happy home for life
Keep my cat safe indoors
Create an enriching home environment
Spay/neuter and microchip
Dispose of litter in the garbage
Learn about the unique Hawai’i environment I’m protecting
Pet owners can then take the Pono Cat Pledge, which includes a commitment to these activities. These pages are the result of a combined effort of humane society representatives on Oahu and Kauai, and local, state and federal conservation groups hoping to realize the shared goals of responsible pet ownership and wildlife and ecosystem health.
Please share this resource with your clients and colleagues. And if you have any feedback or want to help get involved with future steps in this information campaign, contact Michelle Barbieri.
The 2024 legislative session is up and running! Several introduced bills may have direct impacts on veterinary practice in Hawaii. Here are the bills we are watching:
HB2086 / SB2749 RELATING TO HEALTH. Requires the administrator of the narcotics enforcement administration to make an emergency scheduling by placing xylazine into schedule III on an emergency basis. [HVMA working to include a veterinary use exemption]
HB1527 / SB2562 RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE. Prohibits animal owners and their employees from performing any surgical procedures on the owner’s animal or animals. Prohibits the elastration, or castration via banding, of a pet animal. Provides that a violation of the prohibitions is a class C felony. Clarifies that the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree does not apply to accepted veterinary practices and cropping or docking as customarily practiced when the procedures are performed by a licensed veterinarian.
HB1580 RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY. Amends the criminal penalties for various animal cruelty offenses by increasing the category of offense
SB2114 RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS. Prohibits the feeding of feral animals within a certain distance from Department of Education public school campuses; establishes fines
SB2564 RELATING TO PET ANIMALS. Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue, refusing to renew, canceling, or establishing higher rates for a homeowners insurance policy or dwelling fire insurance policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the premises. Requires any pet animal found on the premises during an eviction to be given to the owner or taken in by an animal control agency. Limits the monetary amount of pet deposits and pet rent. Clarifies that a provision allowing a lien on an animal to secure payment for caring for or feeding the animal does not apply to pet animals.
SB2692 RELATING TO DANGEROUS DOGS. Establishes requirements and penalties for owners of dangerous dogs. Allows for impounding of dangerous dogs under certain conditions.
Please keep an eye out for calls to submit testimony on these bills in the near future. We will send out an alert once any of the bills that may impact veterinary practice are scheduled for a hearing. At that time testimony may be submitted online at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/.
The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association would like to thank Adjutant General Kenneth Hara and Brigadier General Steve Logan with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for their efforts working with MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) and Maui Humane Society to help Animal Search and Rescue teams gain access to previously restricted areas on Saturday August 26th. We acknowledge that efforts to search for pet animal survivors are necessarily secondary to ensuring the safety of personnel entering the burn zone and safely securing human remains.
It is important to clarify that steps to provide for animal survivors in the burn zone were taken even when Animal Search & Rescue teams were not allowed access. A FEMA veterinarian has been stationed in the burn zone supporting the canine search teams, and she oversees the delivery of any animals found alive by first responders to the Maui Humane Society for medical care. Food and water were left in various areas throughout the burn zone for any other animals that were hiding from the response teams.
We encourage all who want to provide care to animals in this or future disasters to complete the free FEMA training (ICS 100/200 & IS 700/800) and Community Emergency Response training so they can understand how to best participate in response situations and help their communities.
Updated Aug 17, 2023– All information posted here is subject to change
USDA APHIS has provided the following information for transporting pets off Maui.
Maui Humane Society Maui Humane Society is providing free health certificates and free air kennels for residents that need them to leave the island.
OGG to HNL only Kamaka Airlines – possible discount on flights
OGG to Continental USA – Alaska Airlines – OGG to Seattle and LAX. Assisting with Maui shelters relocating pets. They recommended shelter groups send them a request. They are considering discount requests to pet relocation groups. – Hawaiian Airlines – OGG to SEA and LAX (non-stop flights, no kennel limitations); OGG to SFO and SAN (non-stop with max 28” height kennels)
HNL to LAX – Pacific Air Cargo – book through IPATA Pet Transport Company – Aloha Air Cargo – book through IPATA Pet Transport Company; accepts giant breeds, also flies to Seattle – American Airlines Cargo (PetEmbark) – PetEmbark@aa.com; 1-800-227-4622, (only between HNL and continental US)
Local IPATA Pet Transporters Island Pet Movers – www.islandpetmovers.com/contact (please fill out inquiry) – exotic pets, cats and dogs, fish on case-by-case basis – discount Aug 15-25, OGG to HNL to LAX, $65 to HNL, $225 to LAX (100-500 size kennel); no breed restrictions to LAX – other mainland locations $375 – $575, airport and breed restrictions apply – utilizing Kamaka Air and Pacific Air Cargo – crates and health certificate exams discounted 30%
Tails of Hawaii – 808-676-9663 option 3 – tailmovers@tailsofhawaii.com – Exotic & pocket pets, potbelly pigs, cats and dogs, birds, NO fish – may offer discount for moves on case-by-case basis, submit request to tailmovers@tailsofhawaii.com – offering discount on health certificate issuance in HNL for those impacted by Maui wildfires
REMINDERS FOR VETS Category I Accredited Veterinarians authorized through our National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) are NOT able to issue health certificates for pet birds or pet pot-bellied pigs. Those animals would need to be examined by a Category II Accredited Veterinarian. If AV’s have more questions as to which Category they are authorized, to please refer to the following website and feel free to reach out to the local NVAP Coordinator: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/nvap/ct_category1-2
For pets going to the mainland US, please issue a rabies vaccine certificate.
October 8, 2023 – The Maui Humane Society continues to coordinate ongoing relief efforts to the people and animals impacted by the Maui Wildfires. Thank you to all those who have already volunteered your time and finances to support these efforts. There is still a need for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/assistants, so please sign up for volunteer shifts here.
Additionally, the HVMA has received a grant from the AVMF to provide reimbursements for airfare for volunteers traveling inter-island to assist the Maui Humane Society. To qualify for this reimbursement, you will need to sign up for your volunteer shift(s) through HVMA and submit your airfare receipts to us. Reimbursement will be made by check after your shift(s) are completed and you have submitted at least 2 pictures taken during your shift(s) for use by AVMF.
August 27, 2023 – The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association would like to thank Adjutant General Kenneth Hara and Brigadier General Steve Logan with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency for their efforts working with MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) and Maui Humane Society to help Animal Search and Rescue teams gain access to previously restricted areas on Saturday August 26th. We acknowledge that efforts to search for pet animal survivors are necessarily secondary to ensuring the safety of personnel entering the burn zone and safely securing human remains.
It is important to clarify that steps to provide for animal survivors in the burn zone were taken even when Animal Search & Rescue teams were not allowed access. A FEMA veterinarian has been stationed in the burn zone supporting the canine search teams, and she oversees the delivery of any animals found alive by first responders to the Maui Humane Society for medical care. Food and water were left in various areas throughout the burn zone for any other animals that were hiding from the response teams.
We encourage all who want to provide care to animals in this or future disasters to complete the free FEMA training (ICS 100/200 & IS 700/800) and Community Emergency Response training so they can understand how to best participate in response situations and help their communities.
Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the fires on Maui and Big Island. In addition to government efforts, the Maui Humane Society, HVMA, and local vets are organizing the veterinary emergency response.
We are so grateful for the mass outpouring of support to the Maui community. Veterinary professional volunteers are needed to assist Maui Humane Society efforts to serve the people and animals affected by the wildfires. Please sign up here if you are interested, and we will contact you as shifts become available.
Help foster a pet! Home to home is helping connect people in need looking for temporary housing for their pet while they are displaced from their homes.
Maui Humane Society has reported they may have a need for feed for large animals including horses, cattle, goats, and pigs. If you are interested in donating any large animal feed or supplies, please contact public_relations@hawaiivetmed.org. For cattle feed/supply donations, please contact the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council.
There are AVMF disaster grants that may be of help to some members.
Disaster reimbursement grants for veterinary medical care, up to $5,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by veterinarians providing emergency veterinary medical care to animal victims of disasters.
Disaster relief grants for veterinarians & veterinary students, up to $2,000 may be issued per grantee for out-of-pocket expenses incurred immediately following a disaster. Copies of receipts or other approved documentation must be submitted along with the application form.
AVMA has several resources on disaster preparation, including:
APEX, NC —The American Heartworm Society (AHS) is urging veterinarians to participate in the 2022 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey.
The AHS maps, dating back to 2001, are generated every three years and are widely used by veterinarians, animal shelters, animal rescue organizations and media to educate the pet-owning public about the threat of heartworm disease. The maps, which are built using data submitted by thousands of veterinary practices and animal shelters, also provide vital insights for veterinary professionals about trends in heartworm incidence and the spread of heartworms into new areas of the country.
“Each veterinary practice that submits data enables the AHS to create a more comprehensive and useful map,” states AHS President Jenni Rizzo, DVM. “We urge every practice—large or small—to take a few short minutes to submit their information.”
The deadline to submit survey data on heartwormsociety.org/2022survey is March 15, 2023. The new 2022 AHS map will be made available in April as part of Heartworm Awareness Month.
