HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.208 2024-2026From: Justin Porter
Sent: Sunday, July 6, 2025 6*45 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Against Bill 51
Aloha,
Here is my testimony against Bill51:
I believe the proposed law will make the situation worse by not allowing TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Release)
volunteers to help control cat colony populations. From what I understand, many if not most of the cats
in these colonies are lost, abandon or trapped/dumped pets, not feral cats. These cats are used to being
fed and I do not believe they are a threat to native birds. If anything, they help control the rodent
populations, especially around transfer stations and locations within towns.
In addition, I would like to see more education and resources for pet owners to help find new homes for
cats that can no longer be cared for. Shelters are constantly full, so one solution is to setup up open-air
cat sanctuaries like the highly successful lanai cat sanctuary model. Big Island county has plenty of
empty land which can be set aside. I guarantee plenty of volunteers would help out on a regular basis
providing them with a great opportunity to make a difference!
Lastly, criminalizing people for working with cat colonies will again make issues worse by scattering the
cats making it difficultforTNR ultimately creating more breeding. Starving out or poisoning the cats is
cruel and inhumane.
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Thanks for reading... ICPI
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