HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0301.008 2020-2022 From: Ilene Harrington
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2021 3:18 PM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Subject: Animal Control Contract RECEIVEDd
Time 3:18 n.M. By
Date JUL 0 5 2021 ,
Aloha Council Members,
I am concerned about our Island's lack of animal control. It is imperative when an organization takes over the animal control
county contract that there is a timeline for how and when they plan to execute their services. There should be an oversight
committee established to make sure the timeline is met. Here is an example of several ideas that could be used to
successfully operate a county shelter and to improve the lost and abused pet situation:
1. Free Spay and Neuter clinics need to happen weekly throughout the island. One program where coupons for discounted
services at veterinarian clinics was not free. Since it ended up costing pet owners more than they could afford, pet owners
often didn't follow through with having their pets spayed and neutered.
2. A full-time staff veterinarian
3. Ongoing fundraising events
4. Ongoing adoption events
5. Establish relationships with mainland shelters who can take our island dogs and find them homes in their local community.
6. Educational programs in schools are imperative to show children and teenagers how to properly care for animals to end
the cycle of abuse
7. Dog trainers need to be hired for dogs with aggressive behavior
A No Kill commitment is a positive commitment for our shelter animals and there are organizations with proven guidelines to
help achieve No Kill. It can be achieved when proven guidelines are followed. We cannot go back to the archaic high kill
shelter of the past with only a 30% live release rate where euthanized animals were often dumped in our landfills. Therefore,
when an organization says they want to achieve a No-Kill shelter, a timeline for the steps to achieve that goal and budget
needs to be spelled out. A budget for each step should accompany the timeline to accomplish that goal.
Before awarding the contract to another organization, there needs to be enough money in the contract for the new
organization to follow through with the services outlined in the contract. Ask yourself, how does it make sense to award a
contract for nearly half of the previous contract when the cost of goods and services have risen so dramatically?
It's understandable that no one wants to hold the hands of an organization that ultimately is awarded the county animal
control contract. I imagine that was one of the reasons Best Friends was on the scene. Even though they are known
nationally, their local representation showed a lack of experience for how to work with local animals and how to establish
successful local programs.
Additionally, their mission as stated on Charity Navigator is as follows:
"The mission of Best Friends is to end the killing in America's animal shelters and create a time when there are No More
Homeless Pets. We do this by building community programs and partnerships all across the nation". Please note: Charity
Navigator only gave them two stars out of four.
Best Friends didn't achieve their mission. Therefore, between HRR not receiving enough money and having no real timeline
to execute critical programs for successful animal control and Best Friends failing at their Mission on the Big Island, it was a
set-up for failure.
Remember, these are live, sentient animals we are discussing. They have feelings. Dogs can be trained to do so many
different jobs including helping with disabled people. They are not inanimate objects. Can we place some of our dogs with
people who are in jail and have trainers work with inmates to train dogs? This program will help both the dogs and the
inmates. Are there other "outside of the box" programs that can be established for our pet dogs?
Please consider these points when choosing who you are going to award the animal control contract to moving
forward. Animal control needs to be run like a successful business by caring individuals who respect and care for our island
animals.
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Mahalo,
Ilene Cohen Harrington
President
Domestic Violence Hurts Animals and People
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