Marines


S-4/FAMILY HOUSING - OMC/Hunt - Pet Policy In Housing

Can I have pets in PPV housing?

YES.  Ohana/Hunt’s homes are pet friendly.  Unfortunately, there are some DOD Restricted Breeds that are not allowed on Base.  You are allowed two cats or dogs or a combination for a total of two animals.  

How do I start the process to bring my animals to Hawaii?

The first step is to get approval from the State of Hawaii at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/aqs-info/.

There are many steps to this process.  A blood test is required and a 30-day quarantine period is enforced.  However, the quarantine period can be completed prior to arriving in Hawaii.  If the quarantine period has been completed, an additional period is not required.  If you arrive with your pet prior to completing the required quarantine period, your pet will be quarantine until the required period has been completed.  

Once you have brought your dog/cat to the island, you must to register them with the State and Base.  You can register them with their medical records at the Humane Society in Honolulu or at any Satellite City Hall.  If you are picking up your animal at the airport, registration at the Humane Society in Honolulu will cost much less and the wait time is much shorter. 

Once you have your cat/dog registered with the State, call the Base Game Warden to schedule an appointment with them to register your pet on Base.  All dogs must be taken with you to your appointment.  When both registrations are complete, visit your RSO with the registration papers.  

SERVICE ANIMALS:  For complete details and definitions of the American Disability Act (ADA), visit https://www.ada.gov/.

•    What is a service animal?

A service animal is defined under the ADA as any breed of dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.  The dog must be trained to take a specific action to assist the person with a disability.  For example, a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert when the owner blood sugar is too high or low.  A person can have two service animals that perform two specific tasks.  For example, one dog that detects diabetes and the other that detects seizures.

•    Are emotional support, therapy, comfort and/or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?

NO.  These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have NOT been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.  However, some state and local governments have laws that allow pet owners to have emotional support animals at public places.  Please check with the state and local government agencies for more information. 

•    What if I have an anxiety attack and my dog calms me?  Does this qualify as a service animal?

The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals.  If that dog has been trained to sense an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid these attacks or lessen the impact, then then it would qualify as a service animal.  If you just feel better by hugging/being in the dogs presence when you feeling anxious, it will not qualify as a service animal.  

•    When is a service animal excluded?

The ADA does not require covered entities to modify policies, practices, or procedures if it would “fundamentally alter” the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities provided to the public.   Nor does it overrule legitimate safety requirements.  If admitting the service animal would fundamentally alter the nature of the service or program, service animals may be prohibitive.  For example, service animals may be banned from an area of a dormitory of a boarding school due to allergies.  A zoo may ban service animals from certain areas due to the animals on display being prey or predator of dogs.  In addition, if a particular service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, or if it is not housebroken, the animal may be excluded.  The ADA requires that service animals be under the control of the handler at all times.  A service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless the person’s disability prevents use of these devices.  In this case, the person must use voice, signal, or other effective means to maintain control of the animal.  For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may use a long retractable leash to allow their service animal to pick up or retrieve items.  The dog may not wander away from the owner and must maintain control of the dog at all times.  Under control also means that a service animal should not be allowed to bark repeatedly in a lecture hall, theater, library, or other quite places.  However, if a dog barks just once, or barks because someone has provoked it, this does not mean the dog is out of control.

•    Are federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs required to comply with ADA?

NO.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the Federal law that protects the rights of people with disabilities to participate in Federal programs and services.  For information or to file a complaint, contact the agency’s equal opportunity office.

THERE ARE INDIVIDULAS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SELL SERVICE ANIMAL CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS ON LINE.  THESE DOCUMENTS DO NOT CONVEY ANY RIGHTS UNDER THE ADA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THEM AS PROOF THAT THE DOG IS A SERVICE ANIMAL

Marine Corps Base Hawaii