26/01/2026
📢 UPDATED PET POLICY – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 🐾
‼️ UPDATED PET CONTROL, CARE, & IMMUNIZATION POLICY
Yokota Air Base Instruction (YABI) 34-101
Effective: 15 January 2026
All personnel assigned to or residing on Yokota Air Base are directed to comply with the updated requirements outlined in YABI 34-101, Control, Care, and Immunization of Pets. Significant updates and clarifications from Sections 2–7 are summarized below:
Owner Responsibilities (Section 2)
- Pets must be registered with Veterinary Services and microchip appointments scheduled within three duty days of arrival or acquisition.
- Households are limited to no more than two pets (dogs, cats, or rabbits only).
- Unauthorized animals are prohibited on the installation, including but not limited to birds, reptiles, ferrets, rodents (except hamsters and guinea pigs), farm animals, and exotic species.
- Intentional breeding or profiting from pets is prohibited (PCS-related exceptions only).
- Owners are financially responsible for all costs associated with pet-related damage, care, quarantine, boarding, euthanasia, or removal.
- Owners must comply with mandatory bite evaluation and quarantine requirements, to include all scheduled veterinary appointments.
Control of Pets (Section 3)
- Pets must be under control at all times.
- Cats are not permitted to roam freely, indoors or outdoors.
- Repeated nuisance behavior may result in administrative action.
- Pets maintained off base but brought onto the installation must comply with this instruction and applicable Japanese law.
Registration & Immunization Requirements (Sections 4–5)
- Microchipping is mandatory for all dogs and cats. Rabbits require registration only.
- All dogs and cats 91 days of age or older must maintain a current rabies vaccination.
- Acceptable documentation includes a valid DD Form 2208 or a signed civilian-equivalent rabies certificate, which must be provided to Veterinary Services for upload into the official medical record.
Required Core Vaccines: 💉
- Dogs
- Rabies: Annually
- Distemper/Parvovirus: Every three years following initial vaccination or puppy series
- Cats
- Rabies: Every three years (unless otherwise directed by the 374 AW/CC in consultation with the Base Veterinarian)
- FVRCP core vaccine series (includes panleukopenia, herpesvirus, and calicivirus)
***Current distemper and Bordetella vaccinations are required for access to:***
On-base lodging/ Yokota Pet Care Center
***Failure to maintain required immunizations may result in loss of on-base pet privileges. ***
Removal of Pets from the Installation (Section 6)
The 374 AW/CC or designee may direct temporary or permanent removal of a pet for:
- Failure to register, microchip, or immunize
- Failure to maintain control or repeated nuisance behavior
- Injury to persons or animals, property damage, or multiple custody incidents
- Determination that a pet is dangerous or vicious
Disposition of Dangerous or Vicious Animals (Section 7)
- A pet does not have to bite or attack to be declared dangerous or vicious.
- Dispositions may include:
- Mandatory muzzling
- Behavioral treatment
- Transfer off installation or to the USA
- Euthanasia
- Revocation of pet ownership privileges
****Compliance with this instruction is mandatory. Failure to adhere may result in removal of pet privileges and/or removal of the pet from the installation.****
📄 Reference: Yokota ABI 34-101, dated 15 January 2026
For questions, concerns, and/or scheduling, please contact our facility at 315-225-4363.
Thank you for your time and compliance.
