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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0755.007 2022-2024P L5 jai Fc IN11 06 CDHR.760 From: Maki Morinoue Sent: Monday, April 8, 2024 12:16 PM c To: Council Testimony CO Subject: Animal Control -L7NJ Aloha County Council Members, I am asking our County Council to support stricter laws around animal control. Animal Control needs a Charter of responsibilities and services beyond animal law enforcement. It is a small island. We know that one of our community members, Shannon Matson, had experienced tragedy when her father was killed by vicious dogs in Oceanview. Packs of dogs are now running rampant and growing in numbers in locations on the island. In Hilo, our friends were attacked, dogs dragging a small child off his bike, and luckily, an adult was there to protect him. The message, since I was a kid is `the system does not care about the people's safety around dangerous dogs". In 2024, we need to take this more seriously and create a budget to support proper policies and consequences for pet owners and wild dogs/cats. Now, our Oceanview friends who have been displaced from their homes in Kailua-Kona live out there and are afraid to walk around the area. It is not safe. Packs of dogs are a serious safety issue there, and they do not feel cared for or looked after by our county - level police or animal control system. The residents there feel they need to take matters into their own hands, whatever that means ... I do not know. We must do better for our local communities, especially in underserved areas. Wild cats are becoming not just a problem for native bird populations. Due to overpopulation, their feces are showing up in the water quality data and reaching our ocean, which directly impacts our fish and contamination from our human species. Thank you Maki Morinoue H61ualoa, HI 96725 comm. N 5 S• Ref. To: 1 Ref. Date — ,�2Q24