HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0169.004 2022-2024 nC.i l
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From: Mara Saltzman
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2023 4:10 PM
To. Council Testimony
Subject: testimony for April 5. dog shelter/dog house construction funding
Aloha County Council Members,
I am writing in support of funding the dog house/dog shelter construction project led by the non-profit Domestic
Violence Hurts Animals and People (DVHAP). To be quite honest, this is the perfect feel-good project
centered on animal and family welfare for our County. Animal welfare has been in the press frequently in the
last two years on Hawaii Island with the changing of hands of Animal Control. With that press, came great
criticism of how our island's leaders are handling animal welfare. Spay and neuter programs are limited. On
the east side of the island, I spot numerous dead cats in the roadways daily. I am frequently calling in loose or
dead dogs to the county agencies or trying to catch them myself. Many animal welfare advocates that I know
here on this island feel all alone in their concern for animal welfare and say that the County is not doing
enough for dogs and cats on this island. Funding an educational project in which high school students
construct dog houses from recycled pallets and in which a non-profit distributes these dog houses to low
income families will bring awareness to the plight of poorly treated pets on our island and will enrich the
relationship County Council has with the community, particularly on the topic of animal welfare. It is a
supportive approach to helping low income families who are struggling to provide for their pets. This project will
also support education, not only the education of the high school students involved in the construction of the
dog houses, but will educate our community on the humane treatment of pets and the detrimental impact of
pets chained in the weather. Please fund this project. Thank you.
Mara Saltzman
Secretary on DVHAP =
PO Box 6799 m
Hilo, HI 96720w_ r
Emerald Drive
Pahoa, H 1 96778
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Ref.To: COMO
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