HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.325 2024-2026From: Pat F
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 10:44 AM
To: Council Testimony c
a
Subject: Oppose Bill 51
Na--D—i
Aloha Hawaii Council,
My Name is Patrick Faris, and I have lived on Hawaii Island for the last 10 yeats. I moved from Ms
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Iowa where I volunteered with Animal Rescue League of Iowa, and want to not just express my opposition
to this bill from personal experience, but would also like to suggest solutions for your consideration.
Since moving here I have adopted spayed an neutered pets (4 dogs and 3 cats) from shelters, and I have
witnessed upstanding citizens that care for this problem work on the front lone both in shelters and out
.both feeding and trying with little to no budget to fix these animals.
It is clear that feeding these animals is not the solution, but stop feeding them and they will become
more dependent and feral in the wild, so please consider you actions to be a step"backwards, not
forwards.
Clearly you know many of the places these cats are being fed, so if you are willing to spend the resources
in police observation and tickets then possibly you could redirect those efforts into a better humane
society program, as I myself was bit on my property by a early 2018, to which I was able to capture the
dog, bring it to the Humane society of kea'au, and nothing was done. No police report, no call-back!
I have called multiple times to the police department when I have seen animals being sold on the side of
the road, which is clearly an ongoing issue, Dogs, rabbits, cats are clearly just a tip of this humane
animal issue.
I understand that feeding the animals in public parks is an issue as native animals such as nene, or even
more aggressive animals like like mongoose and rats benifit from this. I have watched some fot he
feeders at both the East Hawaii Cultural Center not just feed, but sit for over 30 min on average making
sure the cats only are being fed. In this time it is clear you could be more collaborative with these
dedicated and good hearted citizens rather than demonizing them with tickets and fines.
You as our representatives do not just represent the people here, but the land as well, and criminalizing
the actions of those who care enough to drive to these places, spend what is often money from their own
pockets, trying to address the issue, however wrong your governing body thinks it is, is nota problem.
Rather it drives a wedge between those who are taking action and their own government.
What's next? Are you going to start to ticket the church groups that feed the homeless?? forgive my
frustrated words, but this no feeding stray animals is a de -empathizing act that effect the compassion of
OUR community!
Here's a possible solution;
Comm. � 3 i
Ref. To: 1
!ref. Date 4UL 2 3 2025
1- You already know the location of these feedings, clearly if you want to fine those going there. SO, why
not work with those people?
2- Gather information you can from those working here. Names and phone numbers of those wanting to
organize spay collections, yes there will be some who don't want to do this, but those I know are angry
that the county isn't doing this.
3- Gather animal information. I know many of the workers actually have names for many of the animals
as they know them personally, so you can then prioritize locations for spay events.
4- Don't try to do everywhere at once, but select areas. Sadly some animals may be ineligible to adopt,
but I know I have adopted 3 cats, so you never know until you put in the effort.
5- This will bean ongoing issue if it is not addresses, and our county seems to wear blinders until the
problem is wright in front of them, so maybe try to work seasonally from district to district, and in time
this problem will diminish, but only if addressed.
6- By identifying and working with locations, and making this a collaborative effort between those who
are doing and putting forth the work already you are building community trust, and effectively isolating
the feeding areas to identifiable locations.
IF YOU CRIMINALIZE THESE COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS, THEY WILL NOT GO AWAY, THEY WILL ONLY
DISPERSE AND THEN YOU WILL NEED TO RELOCATE THEM. PLEASE CONSIDER BILL 51 AS A BILL THAT
WILL ONLY EXASTERBATE THIS ALREADY ALARMING PROBLEM!! RATHER WORK WITH THESE CARING
PEOPLE WHO ARE A INDESPENSABLE RESOURCE OF KNOWLEGE ALREADY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE:)
Mahalo for your consideration and time...
Light, Love & Aloha,
Patrick Faris
1.808.657.5799