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<br /> May 15, 2006
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<br /> Council Member(s)
<br /> Subject: Bili 235/Draft 2 -Operating Budget for the County of Hawaii for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006.
<br /> Increasing HIHS spay/neuter discounted coupons. Supportive Testimony.
<br /> On March 23, 2006 I wrote a letter requesting more monies to be allotted for the HIHS budget for the spay/neuter
<br /> discounted coupons. With that letter was a copy of over 5, 200 signatures on our petition, gathered across this
<br /> island, from concerned citizens asking for affordable, and effective S/N program for dogs and cats.
<br /> People want anon-lethaUhumane program to stop the tragedy of animal overpopulation that leads to animal
<br /> abandonment, and animal abuse. People consistently said they want to have more available and unlimited S/N
<br /> discounted coupons.
<br /> As mentioned, in my March 23 letter, on Feb 1", only 105 discounted coupons were made available by HIHS,
<br /> which sold out on the same day. From Feb 2 -14, over 200 people were turned away that wanted to stop animal
<br /> overpopulation via the affordable S/N discounted coupons. So that means the 200 people have lets say one animal
<br /> each, therefore that's 200 animals for that timeframe alone that could be producing unwanted animal births if not
<br /> sterilized. We need to think and implement prevention, as studies show in six years one fertile female & male dog
<br /> and their offspring's could produce 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one pair of male/female cats and then
<br /> offspring's could produce 420,000. According to the above formula, the 200 animals that needed to be sterilized,
<br /> if allowed to breed, their offspring's would be in the millions, because their owners were not able to buy a
<br /> discounted coupon. People have told us, they have gone many times to HIIi5, only to find out the discounted
<br /> coupons were constantly sold out. For many it has been discouraging. They also said, they could not get their
<br /> animals sterilized without this financial assistance of the discounted coupons. High property taxes, gas spikes,
<br /> health/medication and food cost are factors depressing the household budget, leaving little else for other things.
<br /> People are stepping forward to be responsible pet owners, but they need your help by making available more
<br /> monies into the HIHS spay/neuter budget. No one should be turned away that needs assistance in having their
<br /> animal sterilized. Also, our island is unique, as we need our dogs for security and cats to keep the rat population
<br /> down. If we don't reach out, and assist, we than are contributing equally to the tragic and unnecessary animal
<br /> overpopulation. Keeping in mind, what is furthering this problem is that this island has been without a Humane
<br /> Society Veterinarian for over 2 years.
<br /> Presently before you, is Bill 235, Operating Budget for the County of Hawaii for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006, to
<br /> June 30, 2007. We need the HIHS spaylneuter fund to be increased and no less than $100,000, and I pray you will
<br /> even consider much more, at least $150,000.
<br /> As a tourist state, we must also protect our image of the "Aloha Paradise", we can not afford negative publicity
<br /> as uncaring to our island animals, or preferring to kill animals, which studies show doesn't work, becomes much
<br /> more costly, and a no end or no solution - "vicious kill mentality cycle".
<br /> Also, one must bear in heart, that animal abuse according to the research, is the first stepping-stones to child
<br /> and women abuse. Therefore, $100,000 or more, increase to the animal sterilization program is well worth the
<br /> investment. By doing so, we are truly being humane and a gemle kinder society to our island people, and for our
<br /> island animals. And now we have over 5,200 people's signatures on our petition in support to increase the
<br /> affordable coupon S/N program.
<br /> Respectively yours, CAA ~ ~
<br /> Frances Pueo,968-8279
<br /> P.O. Box 943
<br /> Mt. View, Hi 96771 Ref. TwP~~
<br /> lc~f. Uafe
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