HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.077 2024-2026From: Dawn Garlinghouse
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2025 9:47 PM
To: Hustace, James; Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 51 �
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Aloha Council Members,
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I am writing in opposition of Bill 51. =r--
D,
For my purposes I'm addressing cats specifically. C)
Colony cat caretakers are the front line in the battle against our ever growing homeless, abandoned cat
crisis. A crisis created by humans who are actually the criminals for dumping their unwanted cats and
kittens. Criminalizing the volunteers who work tirelessly, giving their hearts, souls, time and money
caring for these cats, will solve nothing.
Colony caretakers are the ones spaying and neutering these cats to stop population growth. Providing
daily food and water allows them to monitor the colony for new dumped cats so they can target getting
them to surgery. Feeding time is also the time to look for any health issues that need addressing.
Starvation begins to set in at 48 hours but can take days or weeks to actually kill the cat. A long painful
suffering death, cruet!!!
A world without colony caretakers is a world with starving, sickly cats. Dumped intact cats having litter
after litter, year after year. Is this the image we want for our island, animal cruelty?
Like it or not, residents and tourists love colony cats. Suspending TNR programs will make them want to
step in and sneak feed. Dumping leftover plate lunch, burgers, fries etc .... making a huge mess in public
areas.
The county should be concentrating on working with colony caretakers and the community to solve the
crisis, not against them. Take away the fear of fines and legal actions for them doing the right thing.
Funding to all of the organizations already doing free spay/neuter clinics. Funding for mainland
organizations to come over and do mass spay/neuter events. Funding for wellness clinics for illness and
injury. Enforcement of our existing animal cruelty laws. Go after the people abandoning animals all
around the island, dogs and cats.
Please do the right thing, vote No on 51
Mahalo,
Dawn Garlinghouse
Comm. A*ULL—Z----2L-U25-
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