HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0091.041 2022-2024 P/GourlGl
bill 22
C UHT I .: 4, COMM.9l
r11 T-Y OF AVIA
From: Janet Andrea 1073 FEB 21 An 99: ( 5
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:09 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 22/Establishing new Animal Control and Protection Agency
The importance of a state-supported spay/neuter program can not be overlooked.The only way to HUMANELY decrease
the number of animals on this Island is mass spay/neuter programs that are affordable and accessible.A Community
Oversight Committee must be established and you must commit to overhauling Chapter 4.
The condition of the animals on our Island is an abomination and embarrassment.Just in our community of HPP,we see
dumped/abandoned puppies, dogs, cats, kittens, and chickens; loose dogs everywhere,feral cats and kittens, abused
and neglected animals.Just the other day, a young female cat brought her 2 surviving, 6 week-old kittens out of the
rainy jungle to my home. Luckily,the timing was right and Petfix was having a free spay/neuter in Pahoa and a foster
was able to take momma and babies. Momma was fixed, microchipped,vaccinated, and ear-tipped for free.This
scenario is very unlikely though.The status quo here is to let animals colonize and multiply exponentially. Spay and
neuter, ear tipping,vaccination, microchipping is critical if we are to get a handle on this situation.The practice of mass-
euthanization on our Island is NOT the answer and should not be acceptable.This is very stressful and harmful for staff
who care for these animals. HPP community networking is amazing but we are also stressed because there is no place to
take animals:a feral (or neighbors')cat if trapped, a dog running loose. I have 12 rescue cats and 1 I am fostering a feral
kitten. She is one of the lucky ones.These feral cats can carry Feline Leukemia and AIDS and spread it to other cats via
bites.
You/we must support and establish a better system of care for our animals and animal care staff. A new Animal Control
Agency should be modeled after other empirically successful animal control agencies.We have many local non-profits
and community volunteers who are willing to work with the county and a newly established Animal Control Agency
to address animal welfare on our island. If we are going to do this let's do it right,for how we treat our animals says a lot
about the kind of people we are.
Malama 'Aina. It is our Kuleana.
Janet Andrea
HPP, Keaau
Comm. No.
Ref.To: PI co Un LI
1 Ref. Date FEB 2 2 2023