HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.048 2024-2026Testimony to Hawai'i County Policy Committee on Health,. Safety, and
Wellbeing
RE: Bill 51— Prohibiting Feeding of Feral Animals on County PropertE
Provided by Barbara Cigainero on behalf of Action4Animals-Hawai'f
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July 8, 2025
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Aloha. Thank you for the opportunity to address you on this matter. My namd,is
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Barbara Cigainero and I am a member of the Board of Directors of -
Action4Animals-Hawai'i. Action4Animals is a non-profit organization that has as
its primary mission to foster for adoption dogs and cats, to educate the public and
to reduce pet overpopulation on Hawaii Island.
In 2024, Action4Animals fostered and placed into adoption 644 cats and 167 dogs.
Of those numbers 258 cats and 153 dogs were from Hawai'i County Animal
Control. In 2025 to date, we have adopted out 111 cats and 126 dogs from Animal
Control. But we rescue cats that have been abandoned at county facilities as well,
such as Transfer Stations, water stations and other locations where colonies have
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been established because of abandonment of pets by their owners or the
dumping of neighbors' pets that have been trapped.
I am here today to oppose Bill 51 for three primary reasons. First,>policies and
regulations that use starvation as a means to control animal overpopulation are
inhumane and cruel. The process of starvation begins within 48 hours of denying
food for cats and can take weeks before death occurs. During the time period that
the cats are denied food they lose muscle mass, their organs begin to shut down,
their immune system is weakened and they become susceptible to many diseases
and may experience seizures. Let me remind you, in many instances we are
talking about a kitten/cat that was someone's pet.
Second, it will do nothing to stem the flow of abandoned cats. Most people will
continue to abandon cats. Kittens/cats are abandoned for many reasons such as:
owner is moving and cannot find a rental that will accept pets, the newly adopted
cat does not socialize well with existing household pets, owner can no Ionim
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afford to care for the animal. Owners who try to surrender their animals will find
that Animal Control, the Humane Society and private sanctuaries are already over
capacity. When time runs out for the owner, they often feel they have no other
choice but to release the animal in a park or public facility where existing colonies
are established.
Third, Bill 51 will severely hamper the rescue of kittens and cats that we are able
to trap and foster for adoption from county facilities. When kittens/cats are feed
in colony environments, they develop trust with those that feed them. This
greatly enhances the prospect of trapping kittens/cats so that they may be
fostered for adoption.
There is a cadre of volunteers in all parts of this island that feed and care for
abandoned animals using their private resources to do what they can to care for
them. In my opinion, these people are heroes and I find it disappointing that the
county would consider attacking these community volunteers rather than focusing
on the abandonment issue which is at the core of the overpopulation problem.
If the County wished to address the overpopulation of animals, let's fund spay and
neuter efforts, let's establish a network of sanctuaries where animals can be
surrendered and maintained in humane environments. Let's work together to find
innovative solutions that honor all of creation.
Psalm 50:10-11
"For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know
every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine."
We are all a part of a Divine creation.
Testimony in opposition to Bill 51, by Barbara Cigainero
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July 7, 2025
Barbara Cigainero
Action4Animals-Hawai'i
R O. Box 915
Keaau, HI 96749
Dear County Council Members and Staff,
Attached is written testimony in opposition to Bill 51 that would prohibit the
feeding of feral or stray animals on County -owned property. I appreciate the
opportunity to provide comments on this important matter. I will be attending the
committee meeting on this bill and testifying in person as well at the committee
meeting.
If you have questions or need additional information on any matter address in my
testimony, please feel free to contact me.at the address above.
Sincerely,
Barbara Cigainero,
Action4Animals-Hawai'i