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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.391 2024-2026From: Linda Sankovich Sent: Monday, July 21, 2025 10:31 AM To: Council Testimony Subject: Proposed Bill 51 Dear Members of Hawaii County Council - I write you in strong opposition of Bill.51. Legislating away problems is usually unsuccessful if it does not offer alternatives to the problem it is seeking to cure. While the stated intent to the Bill is to protect nature animals, this is not what will happen if Bill 51 is passed. The feeding colonies that have been established provide for capture, spay, vaccinate, and release programs to address an overpopulation of unwanted and uncared for animals, usually cats. The feeding programs serve to help keep cats away from native species as a food source. If passed, Bill 51 will create hardship and cruelty to animals. It punishes kindness and negates care. Animals will become scattered, weak, ill, susceptible to other animals, become roadkill, or die due to illness. This is not a simple problem and a simple solution will not work. A humane, merciful, and creative solution will take more time to draft but I strongly urge you to do so. Perhaps rather than a punitive approach, the Council could seek to create a County sponsored, wide volunteer effort to establish feeding locations in addition to those that are already working. The coalition of animal rights organizations and non -profits that have addressed the Council can be allies in this effort. Now that would be aloha and a fine expression of kuleana. C-' o�c3 v, C o© �'C Mahalo for your consideration and your time. Linda Sankovich o . •0 :,