HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0301.074 2020-2022 From: ten murphy
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2021 5:10 AM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Subject: Fwd: Rainbow Friends RECEIVED
Time 5:I0 a•M. By
Date JUL 0 4 2021 .
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From:
Date: July 3, 2021 at 22:56:27 HST
To: teri murphy
Subject: Rainbow Friends
Hello Teri,
The below is from both myself and Chris, expressing some of our concerns/thoughts about the
Rainbow Sanctuary. Thank you for sharing it with the powers that be, if you wish.
We moved to our property in Kurtistown 8 years ago. Rainbow Friends is our neighbor two properties
away. When we arrived their annoyance was minimal; we were animal lovers in support of their
efforts.
Since that time their presence, and the impact on our neighborhood, has grown significantly. Several
years ago our neighbors came together to express mutual concerns and decided to meet with the
leaders of Rainbow Friends. We asked them to be good neighbors. We expressed the issues: incessant
noise from over 80 dogs, sanitation for 200+ animals, the humane care for these animals. It was clear
that the shelter was over-burdened but working from an admirable place -their compassion and care
for animals in need was genuine. They indicated they heard the concerns of their neighbors and
promised they were working to improve upon the situation, looking for a more suitable location, and
trying to reduce the number of dogs in residence.
Over the years their presence has grown steadily, and conditions have deteriorated proportionately.
Numbers of animals in residence has more than doubled. Last year we were greatly dismayed
(stunned?)to learn that Rainbow Friends had been awarded the contract to provide animal control
services for the county. How could an organization that could not manage its own operations possibly
be expected to expand responsibilities?
With the withdrawal of the Humane Society and shift of services to Rainbow Friends/Rangers, we
have witnessed a huge increase in noise and traffic, and seen evidence of the lack of their ability to
provide services - dead animals on the highways in Hilo are left to rot, families wishing to adopt are
turned away or leave in disgust, repelled at the conditions of the incarcerated animals.
Beyond our concern for our neighbors and for our own property value, we are sickened by the
conditions at the "sanctuary." Rainbow Friends is no longer a shelter. Animals are being hoarded- it is
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clearly animal abuse. I would think the Department of Health should be deeply concerned about
conditions on this property.
At this point we can only plea for intervention. That an inept, mismanaged organization was awarded a
county contract for a vital service is unimaginable. But it happened. Now it's time to clean up the
mess. The property on which the Rainbow Friends shelter is located is not adequate for an operation
of this scale, and this impacts the surrounding neighborhood as a whole. We are sick of traffic, noise,
and the knowledge that animals are being abused NOW. The shelter itself is grossly unprepared to
service animals placed in their care -without even a vet on staff!
How this came to be is all water under the bridge. Now it's time to right this wrong. The shelter must
be closed. The animals must be relocated. The county must accept responsibility for this just as it does
for all basic services impacting the living conditions of residents. No moreattempt of privatizing. No
more looking to volunteers or donations. Animal control must be adequately funded and competently
staffed and managed.
These comments are respectfully submitted by Christopher Hardenbrook and Leslie Sears, residing at
17-354 13-Mile Road in Kurtistown.
Leslie Sears
Kurtistown, HI 96760
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