Step 2 - Microchip and Step 3 OIE-FAVN Rabies Blood Test and Step 4 Waiting. . . .

Aloha, time for some more assistance and advice to anyone trying to move their pets here! Let's continue...

STEP 2 - MICROCHIP

Step 2 is quite simple. Have a microchip implanted in your pet, write down the number, put it in your wallet, in your cell phone, on the crate, scan and rescan it to make sure it works, and have the number handy for your travels and for the paperwork.

STEP 3 - RABIES BLOOD TEST

Don't wait to have this done. This is where things can get complicated if things aren't totally smooth. One of my dogs failed the test and it was a hassle to have him re-vaccinated. We had to make sure the second vaccination was over 90 days from the first one. Luckily he hadn't just been vaccinated at the time of the blood test, but if you are vaccinating for purposes of the test make sure you start early just in case you have to wait another 90 days.

Make sure you look over the vet's shoulder to check all their work. When they send the test to Kansas State (0r DOD), make sure they write "Hawaii" as the destination. This way a copy gets sent to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and your pet's microchip number gets into the system, and you can check their waiting status online.

STEP 4 WAITING PERIOD

The day after the testing laboratory receives the sample is the day the waiting period starts. Your pet can't arrive earlier than 120 days from this date. Also make sure you don't wait more than three years from this date to bring your pet over or you will have to do the test over.

Get a copy of the test and keep it with you. Make sure the microchip number is included and correct. Hawaii should already have a copy by the time you get here, but keep one with you just in case.

You can count the days and figure out the date yourself, but the best source is the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture website. My vet had the wrong date, I had a different (later) date, go figure. So I used the DOA's date and scheduled the flight a few days later just to be safe. For instructions on how to search for your pet's microchip and eligibility date, see http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/microchip

Aloha for now!

Makapuu Trail and Honolulu Symphony Ball

It's been really windy lately, but we hiked Makapuu anyway since it's whale season. They closed the trail to dogs for a short while, then after much protest from all the dog lovers of Oahu, they reopened it for dogs, as long as we use leashes and pick up (we always do anyway). Here's some pics.

Last night was the Honolulu Symphony Ball. The theme was Ports of Call, and dress was either black tie or ethnic formal costumes. There was a silent and live auction. The man in the striped tux is Jimmy Borges, an extremely talented singer whose work includes tributes to Frank Sinatra (he's the only one ever granted full access to Sinatra's collection), and Tony Bennett once said Jimmy is one of the best singers he's ever heard. He is a legendary jazz artist and his early film career included regular appearances on Hawaii Five-O and Magnum PI. He got up and sang a song for us at the ball. Fun was had by all.

Weekend on Maui

Needed a getaway, so went to Maui for a weekend of snorkeling, whale watching, relaxing. Stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea. This photo is the view from the lanai - Ocean Front suite, just about front and center of the hotel, woo hoo! Service is impeccable at the Fairmont Kea Lani, the suites are huge, the beach out front has incredible snorkeling, the swim up bar is a delight, and the whales were going off! Enjoy the photos, I hardly took any because I was underwater most of the time :)

Huge bathroom! This is only half of it, the other half included a giant shower, so big it didn't need a door or curtain.

The adults only pool, peace, quiet, and cabana boys walking around handing out pineapple spears :)

Sunset view from Grand Wailea.

Life gets in the way!

I really have been meaning to post forever and ever and ever. Life really seems busier in Hawaii sometimes than on the mainland. Perhaps it's because everything takes longer to do. In a good way. It's taken me a while to get into the rhythm of the islands, so that I'm OK with how long everything takes, but then look what happens, I don't post in my blog. I've been content without TV or computer for days at a time, there's so much to do outside, but I get behind on emails, etc. I couldn't even remember my password to log in today. Thank you all for checking back and sorry for the absence.

For some balance, I'll have to warn you all about some things that aren't so great about moving your pets to Hawaii. For one thing, the increased humidity means my dogs are smellier. Everything smells more here, so if you have a wet dog, you can realy smell them. Also, the constant warmth and moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria. Tasha had a bladder infection and had to take antibiotics. She's all better now, but it was really an ordeal. Also it was smelly!

Then, the latest Hawaii-related issue. Danzig has been scratching a ton, and I thought it was from the sand and salt of the ocean water. So we stopped walking them on the beach so often. Hawaii's pet importation requirements are very strict about making sure your dogs are treated with a flea/tick product like Frontline within a few days of arriving here. So I've had them on Frontline, and figured since that's what they require, it should be all good right? WRONG! Despite religious application of Frontline, my dogs got fleas!!! I actually took them to the vet, only to be told they have fleas. Argh. They explained that Frontline doesn't work very well here. Hawaii is such a hugely hospitable environment for fleas that it's not strong enough in many cases, even though it is super expensive and prescription strength. So we had to put them on Sentinel (even more expensive) and switch to Advantix and also add in Capstar. The problem still isn't gone, it's been a constant battle. And don't even get me started on the mosquitoes. Well, OK, here I go anyway. We've had a bunch of rain, so there have been a lot of mosquitoes here and I am covered in bites. I might be a little cranky from lack of sleep, work has been really busy and I have been going nonstop since 2009 began. For a little perspective, I will get on my beach cruiser in a few minutes and pedal to the beach and look at the ocean, and remember and appreciate that I live in Hawaii. I'll also pick up where I left off with regards to moving pets here . . .

Tourism is down, the economy is freaking everyone out, even in paradise, but since it's bad everywhere, I'd rather hunker down and cut back on expenses here in the warm weather. . .

Aloha and Mahalo for reading!

Famous Amos

Sorry, it's been a while since I've posted, we caught this severe tropical cold that's been going around and I was down for over a week. I finally just started feeling better today.

When we were walking the dogs to pick up some dinner the other night, we saw Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies walking towards us. He was even wearing his watermelon hat. I wanted to say something to him, but he ended up talking first, looking at us and exclaiming, "Oh, what beautiful dogs!" It was cool. He is an active member of the community, he reads to kids at his cookie shop on Saturdays and just opened another location in Waikiki.

We are still loving it here. The dogs have some regular buddies, like Fabrice the poodle and Otis the French bulldog. Even while sick I felt comfort in taking the dogs out and feeling the warm air.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey day was spent in shorts and slippers with good friends. It was a nice change from our traditional snowboarding Thanksgivings and all the ones spent in Tahoe growing up, though all those snowy times bring fond memories too. We had turkey from the grill and lots of desserts. The dogs behaved. Overall, a great day. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

DogTravel Company begins Charters to Honolulu

In today's news:

Dog Travel company finally got it together and is going to start flights to Hawaii where your dog can ride in the cabin with you. When we first considered bringing our dogs with us to Hawaii, we felt that it was totally unacceptable to fly them underneath with the baggage. I looked into every possible alternative, including cruise ships and DogTravel company. At that time, 1-2 years ago, I posted in their forums and tried to get on an organized charter, and also kept asking for someone to share their experience flying with them, but never got much response. Therefore we elected to pursue the "normal" route.

I'm glad we moved our dogs before I saw this, or we would have felt like we HAD to book on a DogTravel charter, or else feel guilty for being bad dog parents and be worried to death over the dangers of flying them in baggage. Due to the high cost, we might not be here now because we would have decided it was cost prohibitive to move them. Only because of the complete lack of any alternatives at the time, we finally flew the dogs in baggage. Everything went fine and we are glad we did it, and it looks like we saved around $30,000. That's a lot of poke! I only wish we had come sooner. Life is short and no one should endure any more cold winters if they don't want to or have to. Life is even shorter for dogs, and our arthritic boy hasn't been stiff at all since moving. They are so happy to be here! One of them just rolled over on their back, feeling totally safe, comfortable and content by the open lanai door.

PHOTO: From DogTravel Company, copied from the StarBulletin story, which can be found at http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20081125_Dogs_travel_in_style_in_flights_to_isles.html