HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0301.054 2020-2022 From: Jennifer Manly
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 12:07 AM
To: Council Testimony; David, Maile; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Chung, Aaron; Richards, Tim;
Kierkiewicz, Ashley;Villegas, Rebecca; Kimball, Heather; Inaba, Holeka; Ferreira, Paul;Jelsma,
Samuel;Wana, Aimee; Command, Robert H; Lee Loy, Sue =
Subject: For IMMEDIATE ATTEN: Animals In Desperate Need of Help
Dear Council Members, ^M
I am reaching out to all of you about the tragic situation that is taking place on Big Island of
Hawaii regarding the animals placed in the HRR shelters. Something must be done and. we
need your help! Please see below for immediate review:
To terminate the Animal Control Contract with HRR is one thing, but to confiscate all the
shelters from HRR because they used County funding to pay the rent DISPLACES HUNDREDS
OF VULNERABLE ANIMALS.
To euthanize the animals who have no place to go is inhumane, unethical, immoral and
unacceptable.
A reasonable time must be given to allow placement of the animals, at least 30 days: Mary
Rose Krigjsman, President of HRR and Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary, took this contract
in good faith and contributed over $90,000 to start HRR animal control services. They were
receiving 54% funding that the previous vendor received. That is not fair. And Mary Rose
Krijgsman also contributed another $17,000 to the ongoing operations. USE THAT CREDIT
FOR THE SHELTER RENT AND KENNELS.
HRR was notified of the contract award on July 27, 2020, with the start of services on Aug 1,
2020--four days notice.
Now HPD is giving them less than three days to move hundreds of animals or they will be
disposed of.
This is unreasonable and unacceptable.
Council members, please help us help the animals. This is not the fault of the animals and
they deserve so much more. There are a lot of people working hard to do what is best for the
dogs and cats placed in these shelters without homes and we need to keep fighting for them
and helping them.They were saved, cared for, sheltered, given medical care, vaccines,
dewormed, spayed or neutered only to be killed??? We can't allow that. Given more time
these animals can be fostered, adopted or find a better alternative placement.
There are ideas that can be utilized as alternatives to this situation: Last year Greater Good
Charities and Wings of Rescue helped hundreds of animals get off of Hawaii to find homes on
the Mainland. This or something like this can be done again. Organizations and people can
reach out to shelters on Mainland asking for help to take in some of these animals and help
them find their forever homes. Fundraising and outreach to celebrities with homes on th-
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island or in general to spread the word of the dire situation happening on Big Island and
across Hawaii. Making it known to tourists and through tourism to promote adoption during
their visit. Getting it out to the public on the Mainland about what is happening and the help
that is needed. Lanai has a cat sanctuary where they house the animals that curved the feral
.cat situation, which not only helped the cats but the island as well. Something like that can
also be done on Big Island.There are many more ideas and suggestions but your help is
needed before we can do so.
We are calling upon the County Council to stop this madness and do the right thing for the
animals! I hope this can be resolved in a timely manner for all parties involved and especially
for the innocent animals whose lives are at stake.
Thanks you,
Jennifer Manly
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