HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.094 2024-2026From: Bee Henderson
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2025 11:37 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: WE OPPOSE BILL 51
Dear Council members. I am writing to OPPOSE BILL 51 that criminalizes the feeding of cats on County land. If
this is an attempt to lower the numbers of free -roaming cats and/or protect the nene, I strongly believe it will
have the exact opposite effect. o c�
Regular feeders know their colonies. They can spot newcomers, whether born or dumped. Most th�c
feeders I know also TRAP newcomers and get them spayed or neutered at one of the NON-PROFIT _<
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organizations on the island.
If you criminalize feeding, I predict the following will happen:
Cats will spread out looking for food. This will make them harder to monitor, harder to spif unfixed
cats, harder to trap unfixed cats. -.
Cats will spread out, looking for food, and become a nuisance to visitors, campers, and nearby food
establishments.
Visitors to the Island (being generally kind and good-hearted) will bring food for the cats. It is well-
known that they drop bags full of kibble in various parking lots. They have done this for decades.
If they don't have kibble, they will drop the last of their sandwiches, the last of their bento lunch,
whatever they have, to help the starving kitties. The trash will accumulate.
Once word gets out that Hawaii County wants to criminalize kind people who feed cats, there will be
some negative press, and many people may choose NOT to visit the Big Island.
My understanding is that the County Council is working with a local non-profit and has set in motion a plan to
get a handle on the numbers of free -roaming cats. I have heard that the Council has given this group a sizable
sum to carry out this research. I cannot understand why this same council would want to interfere with this
recently established plan.
Perhaps you could give the money that you would save by not having to pay officers to patrol the parks and
catch feeders in the act, and give it to the non -profits that are doing the work to lower the numbers of free -
roaming cats.
My husband and I were both born in Honolulu (a very long time ago). Looking for a quieter and more peaceful
life, we moved to the Island of Hawaii in 1995. We would hate to spend the rest of our days here seeing
hordes of starving cats in our county parks, or more dead cats on the roads.
We respectfully request that you NOT pass Bill 51. Comm. ��•
!Ref. To:
Bernice McBryde Henderson and Greig Henderson Ref. Dote JUL — 8 2025