By Edwin Tanji Advertiser Maui County Bureau Service dogs will be included in Hawaii's animal quarantine rules governing guide dogs under proposed amendments scheduled for public hearings at the end of April.
Service dogs assist people who are deaf or in wheelchairs.
That rule and other changes come in response to issues raised by owners who have had pets in quarantine, or by the quarantine station staff, said state veterinarian James Foppoli. He said the change defining service dogs and giving their owners the same rights as owners of guide dogs for the blind is the biggest change. Guide dogs must go through quarantine, but owners may use an apartment at the quarantine station, and work with the animals outside the station, to maintain the dog's skills. The state's quarantine procedures are designed to ensure no animals enter the state infected with rabies. One change increases fees for animals born in quarantine.