HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.701 2024-2026From: Debbie Anderson COUNTY CLERK
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2025 10:46 PM COUNTY OF HAWAI' I
To: Council Testimony RECEIVED
Subject: AGAINST Bill 51 (for July 23) Time 10:00 U.M. By
Date JUL 2 2 2025
Aloha,
I am writing before Noon on Tuesday, July 22 to request to be allowed to testify via Zoom remotely at
the meeting on July 23. The e-mail I sent for the earlier July committee
meeting countyremotetestimQnyPhawaiicQunty,gov couldn't be delivered, so I wasn't able to speak in
person yet.
If this doesn't work, could you at least ensure my written testimony is on record?
At what has become Wailoa Park, generations of families have fed ducks as part of teaching our keiki
to take care of animals. On County property stray animals have been dumped, and may be starving.
Though my co -rescuer has taken photos of the license plates of cat dumpers, nothing has been done
about this. One late June dump in our neighborhood included at least 5 females out of 7 kittens. At least
6 of these were spay/neutered, and 1 adopted. My neighborhood animal population will go out of control
if Bi1151 passes!
Unfortunately, Animal. Control focuses on dogs which can bite. Feral cats are not well managed. The
most important contribution our county can make is to fund spay neuter efforts, which are now done
privately.
For example, I have spent thousands of dollars and spay/neutered 63 cats who were dumped in my
Wailoa Park neighborhood. My son has used this as his community service project for his public school,
as is learning to take care of animals less fortunate than ourselves. A co -rescuer and I use fish nets from
Tokunaga store to capture animals during feeding. Our record for one session is 14 cats taken in for
spay/neutering. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to catch more than this yet. It takes time for cats to
learn to trust feeders enough for us to be able to capture them.
In order for us to help to prevent further overpopulation, we need to be able to feed animals as a
means to trap and spay/neuter them. EVERY trap is baited with FOOD! If Bill 51 becomes part of County
policy, it will completely impede what is necessary for our spay and neuter efforts. Bill 51 is absolutely
crazy!
Animal cruelty is part of statute already. This bill is CRUEL, and in direct opposition of animal
management. It is SHAMEFUL.
PLEASE do NOT pass this out of committee!
Mahalo for listening to myself and on behalf of other co -rescuers,
Debbie and Cormac Anderson
719 Mililani Street
Hilo, HI 96720-4329
Comm. �.
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