By Linda Conway -
[email protected]
Aloha,
I am writing concerning Pet Quarantine. I am the wife of an active duty
Army Chaplain, who received orders to report to the Island of Oahu on
July 2, 2001. Because we have a daughter with many medical problems
(including mental illness), our orders were held up while a review was
made of her records to be sure the military medical system here would be
able to handle her requirements. Thus we did not get our orders until
April 7, 2001. Fortunately I spoke to our Vet (Dr. Evans, Ft. Belvoir,
VA) concerning the possibility of Hawaii being our next duty station.
She was quite upset, advising us that there is no medical reason for
Hawaii's quarantine requirements. We then made the decision to start the
costly medical requirements to qualify for the 1 month quarantine, even
though we were not sure we would be coming here. I am so glad we did. If
I had waited until my husband had orders, my furry friends would have
spent 120 days in quarantine.
I would like to take a moment to talk about our dogs,
They were both adopted from shelters. Chi-Chi, our 11 lb poodle mix, was
badly abused, when we adopted her at 2 years old. We affectionately call
her "Neurotica". We have spent 8 years loving and reassuring her and
have been rewarded by a sweet loving companion who tries to do every and
anything we ask. Itty Bitty, a 5lb Maltese, was found on the streets,
about 5 years old. She was very aloof and totally withdrawn and very
sick. We have spent the past five years gaining her trust and nursing
her back to health. She became a vivacious fur ball, very affectionate
and loving.
It was these two friends we placed in quarantine for one
month. Neither one could understand why they could not be with us. Dogs
are pack animals. They view their humans as part of their pack. We know
from canine studies that there is nothing as stressful for a canine than
to be totally isolated from the pack (that is why we have 2 dogs). With
this in mind I asked that my dogs be placed together in one cage. I was
initially told this was impossible. When I arrived the afternoon of July
3. I found my dogs in side by side cages. They could see, but not touch.
Itty Bitty had scraped her front paws raw trying to dig out through the
concrete flooring to get to Chi-Chi. Chi-Chi was hyperventilating and
shaking. I said to the staff there at quarantine that this was
unacceptable and that my dogs needed to be together. I was told that the
staff would not enter a cage with more than one animal, but that I could
do complete care and take care of my dogs myself. I agreed since I felt
had no real choice due to what separate cages was doing to my animals
medically and emotionally. From that point until August 1, 2001 I did
everything. I cleaned, fed (I provided the food also) watered, groomed
and had the dogs see the vet when they became ill. For my work and the
rental of one 3 ft by 12 ft cage, I paid $1,310.00.
But that was not all. Itty Bitty developed diarrhea and
vomiting within the first week. As she began to feel better, then
Chi-Chi started to take sick. At the end of the third week, Itty Bitty
developed an eye infection. My dogs had never before had diarrhea and
vomiting like they did in quarantine. I was told by the workers it was
from the change in the water. However as a military family, my dogs have
moved and traveled across the Continental United States many times.
Either Hawaii's water is far substandard to just about everywhere in the
U.S or it was something else.
Another problem we encountered was that Chi-Chi would
not use her kennel as a bathroom, which is required since the animal is
not allowed outside the kennel. I was told to go buy a plot of grass,
which we did so that Chi-Chi could use it. She did, and we found that we
needed to keep it sprayed with insecticide, since the roaches also liked
the moist grass in a plastic tray environment.
We found ourselves spending a lot of time sitting in
this cage trying to reassure our dogs. We also noticed feral cats
frequently around the area. Since they are unvaccinated, they carry many
diseases as well as parasites such as ticks and fleas. These parasites
were managed only by diligent grooming.
I was also very concerned that many cages contained old
rusted benches and fencing, increasing the odds of injury to the animals
and visitors. I saw staff going from one cage to the next feeding and
cleaning, but NOT washing their hands. This unsanitary practice
increased the chance of transferring infection from a sick animal to a
healthy one. Also, the grass around the cages was not mowed regularly
enough to keep the grass short. The high grass and the constant presence
of water (from cage cleaning and rain) bred large numbers of mosquitoes
(they were horrible!) and roaches.
As a "complete care owner" I was required to bring my
own equipment in order to clean my dogs cages. I bought a stiff long
handled brush, disinfectant, and hose nozzle. I was informed by a worker
that I was to provide my own hose, despite the fact that a hose was
present just outside the cage, a hose that many other owners used with
no comment from the staff. I hit the roof and was then "allowed" to use
the hose, but I had several run ins with this particular worker who
insisted it was my job to make sure the hose was put back in a figure 8.
This included her belittling comments as to why I was unable to put the
hose back (please understand I was not the only dog owner cleaning my
dogs' cage). On the other hand, I watched as barking or more aggressive
dogs were hit with water spray if the workers felt like it. The level of
care varied greatly depending on who was on duty.
While there, I watched as a little Yorkie in the next
cage did not eat his food, while the birds invaded his cage and ate it
for him. When I alerted the staff that he was not eating I was told he
wasn't my dog. I watched and intervened as this little dog would run to
the gate as a worker approached only to be hit with water spray because
it was cleaning time (why not wait one moment, to let the little guy
know the worker had a hose??) As soon as he realized they had the hose,
he would run for his life to the back, but he was already wet and
shivering from the cold water.
On the very first day of quarantine, my dogs had blood
drawn for an OIE-FAVN test to prove they had an immunity to rabies (in
other words their Rabies vaccination was working). The results of
earlier administered tests were forwarded to the animal quarantine
station before our arrival. Now they had drawn blood for a second
verification. I was told the results of the second tests would be back
in 10 days to 2 weeks. I asked if my dogs could leave after these
results were received, but was told no. The staff said that all dogs
must be in quarantine for 30 days to prove they do not have rabies. This
is in spite of the fact that we had proof that that they did not have
rabies, both upon arrival and after 2 weeks of quarantine. I do not
understand why you keep an animal in a small cage even after you know
they are rabies free (but not disease free due to the diseases in the
quarantine station). This was very different than the spirit of Aloha
that I have experienced elsewhere on O'ahu.
Because of this one month (I shudder to think what 4
months would have done) we are back to house training Itty Bitty and
coaxing her to be petted. Chi-Chi left the station depressed and
frightened, needing constant reassurance from us. All of this is not to
mention the effect that quarantine has on our Bipolar I (a severe mental
illness) daughter. We had to leave her with friends in the mainland
until the 30 days were over.
Science has advanced much since the inception of
Hawaii's antiquated quarantine rules. The "Pet Passport" system is
almost four times safer than a 120 day quarantine. Common decency calls
for no less that a modernization of Hawaii's laws. People no longer use
leeches because of medical advances. Isn't it time for Hawaii to
modernize its treatment of animals?
One of the toughest parts to this, is how many younger
enlisted families are forced to give their animals up before being
transferred to Hawaii, because they can not afford the fees involved in
quarantine. As an officer's wife it was a sacrifice, but we could do it.
We are trying to change the quarantine Laws, but need
help from anyone who is willing to add their name to our membership
(there is no cost) and who are willing to let Hawaii know the world
knows their dirty little secret. Our web address is:
http://www.quarantinehawaii.com/
Thank you,
Linda Conway
Wahiawa, HI
Go on to Savannah
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