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STUDY TEAM <br />This study was conducted by two animal control/humane professional consultants. The <br />members of this team have extensive training and experience in the animal control and <br />humane field. <br />ACKNOWLEDGMENTS <br />The NACA Study Team would like to thank Grayson Hashida and the entire staff at the <br />Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) for their cooperation and kindness. A special thanks <br />to Rory Flynn, Office of the Legislative Auditor, for the information he provided the Study <br />Team. <br />While NACA has recommended several changes for improving the structure and <br />productivity of HIHS, the County of Hawaii government, community leaders and officials <br />should recognize the importance of an Animal Control program to the citizens and animals <br />they serve. <br />It should be noted that these recommendations are advisory in nature and are based on <br />the observations and fact-finding of the Study Team. The final determination regarding the <br />implementation of this plan, or parts thereof, should be left to the HIHS staff and the <br />governing authorities. <br />COMPARATIVE USE OF DATA <br />HIHS was not able to provide the Study Team with all the data required to provide a <br />detailed, comparative analysis. However, most of the data that was obtained was <br />presented in a format universally used in the animal control/humane field. <br />The HIHS staff provided most of the data utilized in this study. The staff was very <br />accessible to the Study Team and accommodated requests in a timely manner. After the <br />initial written requests for information, all further needs were conveyed verbally or in writing <br />to management. <br />The need for an updated policy/procedure manual is a shortcoming the agency will need <br />to immediately address. The current manual was described as "outdated" and has limited <br />use by workers as a point of reference. The lack of some information also made it difficult <br />for the Study Team to distinguish current procedures from written policies. It should be <br />noted that HIHS is presently developing a new policy and procedure manual which will be <br />reviewed internally by all HIHS staff members and released this year. In addition, the lack <br />of Animal Control tracking data (specifically service calls) made it impossible for the Study <br />Team to determine specific needs within Field Operations. There is no evidence that the <br />data obtained by the Study Team was edited or tampered with in any manner. <br />Introduction -1 <br />