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West Hawaii Humane Society ~ P.O. Box 2695 •Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 (808) 329-2051 Fax: (808) 329-6721 Email - towle@kona.net January 30, 2005 To -Committee Meeting -Animal Control Chapter 4 revisions Testimony -Communication 22.1, Bill #4, Draft 2 & 3 From -Ginger Towle, President, West Hawaii Humane Society 75-5788 Nele Place Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Phone 329-2051 E-mail towle@kona.net I wish to thank Bob Jacobson for spearheading this review, however, I do consider it as work in progress. Many issues can be handled in the contract to fine tune what the community needs. So... I realize that some of the suggestions Madelyn Barrea and I are going to make are costly, however, they should be required if we want an informed educated animal control staff. This should become a career path. These people inter act with the community and should be knowledgeable. They are the police of the animal world. Madelyn Barrea, a past Animal Control Manager for Hawaii Island Humane Society has requested I add this section. This is an Animal Control contract thus: All animal control staff, including and especially the Executive Director shall attend and successfully complete the National Animal Control Officers Training Course before being allowed to obtain a badge and enforce the law. This training is in addition to passing a written exam on the Sate and County of Hawaii animal related laws. (We have experienced the effect of untrained executive directors.) Specific classes in the handling of large animals should also be required. There should be mandatory drug testing and background check. While it is probably logical that fines should be raised, the truth of the matter is that if the laws are not enforced and warnings instead of citations continue to be given, nothing will change. Prior to 1990 West Hawaii Humane Society gave between 250 and 400 citations for half the island and we were severely understaffed as always seems to be the case in animal control. That is why I took the training and assisted my officers in the field. Currently the number of citations is around 100 more or less for the whole island and there is a much larger population now. Maui gave 500 last year and have given as many as 600 in a year. For more information on Maui call Ami Anderson, Animal Control & Cruelty Investigator. 808-877-3680 Ext. 33. She has been there about 20 years. They have the best animal control program in the state. Officers need to be given a fine schedule; each officer should not decide the fines given each time, as it seems to indicate. What is the point of saying a fine of $75.00 to $500? Or $1,00.00 if there are no graduated fines and no indication as to what the officer should do? If it ends up in Court the Judge makes a decision and everything should not go to court! I also feel that graduated fines would be especially appropriate for straying and barking dogs. It should be made a law that tape-recorded testimony, for barking dogs, should be accepted in court. The person recording would identify themselves the time of day and location and would have to appear in court. To lie in court is perjury. Without such a law nothing is going to change! The court accepts testimony from people who are witness to other crimes. The police anim c ntr I cannot be everywhere. Comm. J0. Ref. To: Pte~eeq/ L Ref. Uote