HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.061 2024-2026From: Rema Dikilato
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2025 5:07 PM
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To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Opposed Bill
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Dear County Council Members,
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My name is Rema Dikilato, and I'm writing to express my strong support for the colon32at
caretakers across the Big Island. I am one of them.
For the past ten months and will continue, I have been quietly and consistently feeding a cat
colony using my own resources —not for recognition, but because I care. These cats did not choose
to live in the wild. Many were once someone's pets, now abandoned, and left to fend for
themselves. They deserve compassion, not punishment.
Feeding these cats is not just an act of kindness. It's a vital part of managing their population
through Trap -Neuter -Return (TNR) efforts. When cats are fed regularly, they become more
comfortable around people, making it easier to trap and spay/neuter them. This reduces their
numbers over time, preventing future suffering and protecting native wildlife.
A well-fed cat doesn't roam as much, doesn't hunt as often, and becomes part of a stable,
controlled colony. We are not the problem —we are part of the solution. Volunteers like myself do
this without pay, recognition, or help from the government. We do it because it's right.
I respectfully urge you not to criminalize our efforts. Instead, work with us. Let's find solutions
that benefit everyone —cats, wildlife, and the people who love both. Perhaps one day, the Big
Island could have a cat sanctuary like Lana'i, where humane care and tourism can go hand -in -
hand.
Please let us continue to help, not hide.
Sincerely,
Rema Dikilato
Comm. No. U
Ref. To:
Ref. Date A L 8 202-5