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To: County Council 14 Feb 2006
<br /> Subject: Council 'testimony, Animal Control, Bill 4, Draft 6.
<br /> We commend the committee to establish a spay & neuter fund from proceeds of dog license fees,
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<br /> all impoundment and kennel fees, including any grants and private contributions.
<br /> These generated monies although helpful, fall short on what is needed to make available to the
<br /> island people, truly affordable or no cost spay & neuter for dogs and cats. In 2005, the HIHS total
<br /> adoption was 1,942, with only 952 redemptions from 12,644 received animals, and over 10,000
<br /> mostly healthy animals were euthanized. This shows there are not enough homes for all the animals
<br /> born, these figures does not include the thousands and thousands of abandon animals that we see too
<br /> often at schools, recycle stations, dumps, hotels, parks, shopping malls, subdivisions, and appearing
<br /> in residents' backyards. Many of these animals are unable to survive and die from starvation,
<br /> disease, abuse, or when struck by cars.
<br /> On February ls` (2006), at the Keaau Humane Society, 105 discounted coupons were made
<br /> available and sold out on the same day. Between Feb 2 &14, a tally count was kept on how many
<br /> people was turned away seeking these coupons, and that total was over 200 people. This shows the
<br /> willingness of people to be responsible pet owners, and too, to stop unwanted animal births. Our
<br /> island people need their animals because we are mostly rural/agriculture/country. Our animals are
<br /> our pets/companion and also perform a duo role as utility: dogs for security, and cats for the major,
<br /> major rat overpopulation.
<br /> We have been circulating an island wide PETITION with the help of animal rescue groups and
<br /> others, requesting from County Council to establish an effective and affordable spay and neuter
<br /> program for dogs and cats. And the people have responded, with over 5,000 signatures, and we
<br /> haven't stopped collecting. Upon request, conies can be submitted for the record.
<br /> People have shared their stories with us, a frequent comment is, that they want to be responsible
<br /> and get their animals sterilized but as they say, "no more money". With property tax hikes, gas
<br /> spikes, food, medical, medicine, high cost of living and low paying jobs, there just isn't much left to
<br /> go around. Presently, there are 2 bills before the 2006 Legislature that will help with the cost of
<br /> sterilization: HB 1836 to allow (if passed) out-of- state vacationing Veterinarians under a temporary
<br /> permit to perform free spay/neuter at HIHS, and HB 2631 will provide (if passed) a tax deduction to
<br /> the individual taxpayer for sterilizing their animal. Although helpful, it still falls short on the
<br /> immediate amount needed. Increasing the spay and neuter budget is necessary, as the previous
<br /> allotment of $45,000 is not enough. That number should be at least $100,000. 'the answer to
<br /> control animal overpopulation is to make available unlimited discounted coupons for animal
<br /> sterilization.
<br /> Mahatma Gandhi stated it best: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged
<br /> by how its animals are treated." Therefore, as a caring people, we need positive humane methods in
<br /> animal control, by making available low cost or no cost spay & neuter, and stop the mindless kill-
<br /> kill mentality.
<br /> Respectfully yours,
<br /> Frances Pueo Mary Van Hove
<br /> P.U. Box 943 HCl Box 5010
<br /> Mt. View, Hi 96771 Keaau, Hi 96748
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