HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0301.004 2020-2022 COUNTY CLERK
Committee on Parks and Recreation and Public Sgin
OF HAWAI T I
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6 July 2021 Committee Meeting Time i2:01p.r1. By c
Testimony for Communication 301Dae _ JUL 0 5 2021
We all agree that the homeless dog and cat situation on the island is untenable. The
various rescues work tirelessly to help the animals and help people to keep their
animals and to raise money to do this. I personally spent 60-80 hours per week
volunteering at Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary for almost four years, part of that
time as Vice-President. As such I have seen the many issues confronting companion
animal ownership on the island. And this is the case for all the owners of the rescues
and a number of volunteers. I just about worked myself into exhaustion and I became
totally burned out. But it was only a band aid. We must all work together to solve this
problem and that includes the county. It is too big a job for just one private entity, or
even a group of aligned entities.
Animal control should be run directly by the county--not an independent contractor--with
the various rescues helping adopt out animals, conduct spay/neuter clinics and this
should be funded by the county. Possible solutions include:
1) An island wide (or better yet, statewide) low-income, low-cost, spay/neuter
program. This has shown to be the most effective way to reduce numbers. Many
spay/neuter clinics have been held on the island but it still isn't enough.
Provide free spay/neuter clinics or charge according to ability to pay. Many people are
willing to pay a nominal fee rather than much more at a vet. Funding is available from
many sources, such as Petco. Provide incentives to people to get their animals
spayed/neutered, such as a monetary incentive of$20 or so. Money talks.
2) Partner with mainland rescues to ship animals to the mainland where the success of
spay/neuter programs has actually led to a shortage of adoptable dogs and cats
in shelters. Dogs are sent from Puerto Rico to the Northeast. Rainbow and Aloha llio
have sent animals to the west coast.
3) Make it a law that all dogs and cats are spayed/neutered or their owners will be fined.
Make the fines substantial and enforce these laws. Exceptions can be made for
legitimate breeders or special request.
4) Enforce animal cruelty laws against people who breed dogs for fighting. These and
other irresponsible home breeders are a significant source of abandoned animals.
Again, make fines substantial and enforce the laws.
5) Develop a "Humane Campaign" that promotes responsible pet ownership. Provide
special presentations in schools to illustrate how to treat and care for animals. Have
volunteer programs at schools where students can visit rescues and provide help.
6) Develop volunteer programs for residents with incentives.
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7) Develop foster programs.
8) Make the solutions a tourist attraction. Use Lanai as an example. Their#1 attraction
is the Lanai Cat Sanctuary. Develop voluntourism opportunities for off-island tourists.
Voluntourism for other non-profits is already being developed in Hawaii:
https://www.hawaii.com/thinqs-to-do/voluntourism/. This also results in off-island
adoptions.
9) Develop programs that will assist low-income residents in keeping their pets.
Assistance with food and medical costs would go a long way. Conduct campaigns for
residents to donate food and money for medical expenses.
10) Develop a system with landlords whereby residents can find housing that allows
pets. Most of the rentals do not allow pets. Not even during the volcanic eruption in
2018 did landlords make any exceptions. Hundreds of animals were abandoned or
relinquished because of this.
11) These ideas are but a few suggestions. Many more solutions are out there.
Hawaii Island could be a shining example of how an animal control program can work
with minimal euthanasia. If sound, effective, life-saving changes aren't implemented
there will be terrible publicity for an island and a state that prides itself on Aloha.
The solutions I have proposed are doable, given time, and can fix this huge problem
without mass euthanasia. This needs and deserves a long-term solution. The citizens of
Hawaii Island want a long-term solution that protects the animals. Money spent now
could reduce the cost of future animal control.
Please give this your urgent consideration and remedy this tragic situation with a
humane solution.
Kathy Buono