HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0135.039 2022-2024 P/5. Council
5111 50
COMM. l'
From: Sylvia Dolena
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 7:37 PM
To: Council Testimony _
Subject: BILL 30: Budget for Animal Control--Allocate funds for PREVENTION!! 'J - '
Aloha Honorable Council Members, 2
ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE SALARIES AND WAGES LINE ITEM AND PUT IT INTO:
--ANIMAL POPULATION MANAGEMENT--, Spay/Neuter, TNR
--HEAVIER PENALTIES FOR LOOSE DOGS and DOGS WHO KILL SMALL ANIMALS because the next time, it might be a
human who is injured.
There seems to be a glaring omission in the budget for the new Animal Control and Protection
Agency. Tax-dollars need to be allocated to preventative programs, such as, free/low-cost spay and
neuter clinics, Trap/Neuter/Return or Relocate, and subsidizing community shelter-in-place programs.
These omissions of dedicated funding will result in more of the same issues. The catch and kill
method of population management, the impounding of animals in shelters, the lack of enforcement of
the laws that are preventative in nature, are archaic procedures which are costly and will not
decrease or solve the issues long-term.
REALLOCATE SOME OF THE Animal Control SALARY FUNDS TO THESE ITEMS. It is doubtful
that a full staff will be in place this fiscal year. Putting preventative measures in place will
reduce the number of people and funding needed to run these operations.
--Free/low-cost spay and neuter clinic funding for pets and community animals, matching
funds with the non-profits. The non-profits should not have to do it all.
There is a precedent set with the tax-paying community to allocate funding for spay/neuter
services. This was in prior RFPs and contracts with the Humane Society for the initial amount of
$121,000 annually. Then in 2017, the council, when made aware of the very high kill-rates of pet
species animals, stated that they wanted more spay/neuter services and less killing. At that point, an
additional $100,000 was allocated to the annual animal control budget. Why was this not
reinstated when HPD took over. Now is the time to fund prevention! Catch and kill does not
work or we would be done by now.
--Preventative programs for loose, vicious dogs, such as, ensuring vicious dogs which are not
impounded, are secured. Just issuing a citation without ensuring the owner will keep the dog
fenced, kenneled or tethered, is just asking for trouble.
Just like a driver needs to have proof of insurance, where it the proof of safety from dogs who
run loose and kill small animals and bite humans.
Mahalo,
Sylvia Dolena
Aloha Animal Advocates ��"J,
Comm. N7,0 .
Ref.To: `
1 Ref. Date UN 1 2023