HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.021 2024-2026From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Michelle Barbe
Sunday, July 6, 2025 11:49 AM
Council Testimony
Oppose Bill 51
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Subject: Opposition to Proposed Ban on Feeding Cats on County Property Billfl
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Dear Members of the Hawaii County Council,
I am writing to respectfully express my strong opposition to any proposed legislation that
would make it illegal to feed cats on county property.
The vast majority of these cats were not born in the wildlife they were abandoned or
dumped by people who, for various reasons, could no longer care for them. This is a
human -created issue, and it deserves a humane and responsible solution, not punishment
directed at those who are trying to help.
Across our island, privately funded, volunteer -led groups and individuals have stepped up
where resources are scarce. These compassionate people give their time, money, and
energy to trap, spay/neuter, medically treat, and feed these cats. Many of these cats are
already sterilized and pose no threat of further reproduction. Banning feeding on county
property would not only endanger these cats by depriving them of food and oversight, it
would also undermine the hard work and success of these community -led Trap -Neuter -
Return (TNR) efforts.
Feeding bans do not solve the root problem they only push it out of sight, where it grows
unchecked. Without consistent care, sterilized cats may scatter, become malnourished,
and even die slow and painful deaths from treatable conditions. Additionally,
unmonitored areas could become home to new, unsterilized cats, thereby reversing
progress and increasing long-term costs for the county.
The humane and effective solution is to support the work of these volunteer caretakers.
With county cooperation rather than criminalization together we can continue reducing
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cat colony populations over time and ensure the cats that are here live out their lives with
dignity. lk
Please consider the long-term impact of this decision, both on the cats and on our
community. These caregivers are not the problem; they are a crucial part of the solution.
Sincerely,
Michelle 'Barbe
408-930-5199
13-979 Kahukai St, Pahoa
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