HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0763.008 2022-2024 P /CouLn ,i I
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From: Sylvia Dolena
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 10:02 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: REVISE: BILL 139, BETTER YET MANDATE A CHARTER FOR ANIMAL CONTROL
Gandhi's quote,
The moral progress of a nation is measured in how it treats its animals.
1. The STATE HRS says that Animal Control Officers have the same power and authoriof =r g
a Police Officer or Sheriff. This Bill separates those responsibilities making the Animal; 1-40
Control Officer a "dog catcher"who can issue minor citations. That's okay with the Nj1
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inexperienced AC officers on staff. So this Bill does "name" changes to actually change the
roles.
2. This also eliminates the possibility of a non-profit animal welfare organization for
assuming the responsibilities of Animal Control such as the Humane Society did for 25
years. It appears that the County wants to make sure this Animal Control Agency stays in
place even though the System is severely broken and there is no evidence of fixing it.
Mr. Runnels is not experienced in animal control or in the issues of this island. How can he
be expected to solve these issues. So he is getting direction and mentorship from people
whose archaic mindsets keep the animal issues from being solved.
As Einstein said, "Problems cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created
them."
3. Even in statements from the code which are being clarified,there are still glaring,
unclarified language regarding pets in domiciles and pets which`are unowned and
abandoned, setting them up for eradication. This is unacceptable because this puts the
onus on DLNR to do the dirty work.
So what does the below excerpt mean? It reads as if an animal covered by this code has to •
reside/be maintained on the premises of a dwelling unitand kept by the resident of a
dwelling unit 999"
HCC
Animals,"unless provided otherwise, include but are not limited to those animals that are
customary and usual pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, honeybees and other beasts which are
maintained on the premises of a dwelling unit and kept by the resident of a dwelling unit solely for
personal enjoyment and companionship, such as, without limitation, for a hobby, for legal sporting
activities and for guarding of property;animals exclude aviary game birds and fish as defined in
Hawai'i Revised Statutes.
4. Residents from all 9 districts have given their input on their top issues and
solutions. The residents are frustrated and overwhelmed handling animal welfare issues
due to the lack of services from Animal Control.
Comm. o III ' • •
Ref. To: II,�N1
1 Ref. Date AP:' 0 3 2024
Sylvia Dolena
Owner, Pete Lani Farm LLC
Owner,Winning Edge Women's Leadership
Director, Puna Rising Entrepreneur Hub
Co-founder,Aloha Animal Advocates, HI Domestic non-profit
Director, Malama O'Puna. 501 c3
President,Aloha Lokahi Association, 501 c3
President, Kulia I Ka Nu'u Outreach Services
Vice President, Love Those Dog Paws, 501 c3
Executive Coach, Hewlett-Packard Enterprises
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