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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0376.011 2000-2002F'. West Hawaii Humane oci t �= P.O. Box 2695 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 • (808) 329-2051 • Fax: 329-6721 s November 5, 2001 To — Aaron Chung, Finance Committee Chairman & Committee f1mo —„7— qY-- From — Ginger Jowle, President, 'Vest Hawaii Humane Society Subject — N.A.C.A. Report on Hawaii Island Humane Society & Animal Control Contract First I want to stress that I feel that Hawaii Island Humane Society has caring board members who are as interested in animal welfare as I am, I also feel that they have not always known what has been happening in the shelters and with animal control. I feel we not only should but can work together in the future. This is a huge island and there is certainly enough work for two organizations. Working together we can accomplish great things. It is understandable that the 'lest Hawaii community would be unhappy with the lack of animal control etc. It is also a fact that an executive director, regardless of good intentions, would not have a clue as to the problems involved in animal control without police background or past humane society experience. With an animal control senior officer with 20 years experience they should not have had the problems the have had. West Hawaii Humane Society has been given property by Kelly Greenwell. We will be building a shelter to house animal control animals, an education building for use by the community and a limited access no kill shelter. This is a community project; we don't expect the County to furnish everything. Retired Police Major dank Silva and Captain Dale Fergerstrorn said they will help with training animal control officers. Eric Sakach from Humane Society of the United States is an advisor as well as Dr. John IJelfrage, the U.S. Governments Western Regional Veterinarian Services officer, a former Kona veterinarian, past West Hawaii Humane Society president and he also was the #2 man in the State Ag. Dept. He just returned from England consulting on the Mad Cow disease. The N.A.C.A. report was very clear on Hawaii Island Humane Societies problems. Their report has validated many of the problems I have brought up on more than one occasion. The Police Department should be in charge of the contract and supervise the animal control program, only to the extent that they assist, if necessary in training, respond in dangerous cases and answer emergency or after hour calls when an animal control officer isnt available or until he can get there. However, the responsibility for animal control should be the humane society responsibility, including keeping all the records. Explicit directions should be spelled out in the new contract. comm, File NM 4 .€t The idea of a community board to oversea the contact etc. is unnecessary, you have a contract and the Police Dept. can handle any complaints. I feel this would be not only an additional expense but also a liability for the County. Johnny Mays didnjt feel the contract should be split, however, he also stated he had no experience with 2 organizations doing the same job for a County government. He then suggests that the police department take over animal control and the Humane Societies just do the sheltering. This is a ridiculous idea for many reasons. Of course for several million dollars it could be done most effectively with the Police doing the whole job because animal sheltering and animal control are tied together and dividing this process would be a nightmare for records. For the police to just hire people to do animal control without training in animal welfare, how to handle various animal behavior problems etc. would not do much for providing education for the community. This hasn't worked well in Kauai in the past. Honolulu and Maui both have animal control contracts. Maui has the best program in the state, excellent sheltering and animal control. Aimee Anderson instructs the police on how to handle a complaint when they answer a call when the humane society isn't available. Their executive Director is Keith Pocock, a retired police officer. Aimee Anderson has been trained by N.A.C.A. and also attended classes by Eric Sakach from the Humane Society of the United States. I have made arrangements for her to come over and visit with some of our administrators and police. Maui Humane Society has an excellent rapport with the community even though they issued 650 citations last year. The animals are extremely well cared for, cats have a large communal cage where the visitors can enter as well as smaller glassed in areas. The most understated comment in the whole report was "a significant level of frustration among citizens during the on-site visit." The petitions from the West Hawaii community asking for West Hawaii Humane Society be given the animal control contract, documented records showing no citations given in Nest Hawaii for months on end, the police department having to issue vicious dog notices, because Hawaii Island Humane Society wouldn't do it, killing cats the day they arrived and not utilizing the large communal cat cages, Kona and Waimea shelters closed Sundays and Mondays and the Hilo shelter open 6 days a week 9 to 5:30, !lona open 4 days 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. open until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, telling people with dog problems in their neighbor to get a cage, constantly telling people who want a cat picked up 'that's not in our contract" not building the Kona cat facility with money left for that purpose, where did the money go? Etc. etc....Could these be some of the reasons for dissatisfaction in the community. 'Nest Hawaii Humane Society and the community were very happy when the County built the shelter in eldest Hawaii many years ago, we felt it was ours and worked to a€nprove the facility adding fencing, intake cages, benches in the dogs kennels, raised puppy pens where puppies were kept in shredded paper, automatic water bowls in all kennels and sheet metal over the chain link to keep the animals apart, 12 additional =dogs runs, grooming and laundry area, improved euthanasia area, with a table, and fencing around the property. In Waimea we added 2 storage rooms, fencing, intake cages and cover for the dog kennels to protect them from driving rain. Now the benches are gone, the automatic water bowls are gone, the puppy pens are gore and last summer their veterinarian had the sheet metal removed because it was dirty and some corners were bent. We are now back to a basic pound. Hawaii Island Humane Society owns the filo shelter and they obviously have no interest in the Kona facility or Waimea. All things need repair and up ' ailing, however, they just ripped things out. Vast improvements were made to the Hilo shelter. It's time for a change. Hawaii Island Humane Society has had the contract for 10 years and service has continually gone down hill. West Hawaii needs its own community-based organization. I" L HUMANE SEEX? I E'f'Y MANAGER/Hawaii Island Humane Society -Kona Shelter. Responsible for overseeing daily operations of shelter. Minimum 2 years supervisory experience. Must be self- slarter ano able to work independently, good written anu verbal communication skills required. Previous animal related experience and customer service helpful Competitive salary and benefits. Please send resume to Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please ACCOUNTANT'BOOKKEEPER - KONA, FT. minimum 2 years bookkeeping experience. Good PC skills and profi- ciency in Excel required. Familiarity with MAS 90 a plus. Requires ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work independently. Competitive salary and benefits. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please Animal Health Technician/Kona. FT and PT positions avail- able. Responsible for general healthcare of shelter animals, coordination of duties with management, staff and volunteers. Perform assessment of animal health and behavior, clean and ,disinfect kennels, and keep accurate logs. Support staff vet- 'brinarian. Previous animal handling experience preferred. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Koria HI 96740 No phone calls please Humane Officer/Waimea. FT. Responsible for assisting the public in resolving animal related problems, respond- ing to complaint calls and various shelter duties. Must have good verbal and written communication skills, good people skills, clean driving abstract and ability to work independently. Previous animal handling and customer service experience helpful. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please HU i� MANAGER/Hawaii Island Humane Society -Kona Shelter. Responsible for overseeing daily operations of shelter. M nimum 2 years supervisory experience. Must be seif- slarter ano able to work independently, good wntten ana verbal communication skills required Previous arnmal related experience and customer service helpful. Competitive salary and benefits Please send resume to: F7.16��1 -.atAND� ACCOUNTANTBOOKKEEPER KONA, FT, minimum 2 years bookkeeping experience. Good PC skills and profi- ciency in Excel required. Familiarity with MAS 90 a plus. Requires ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work independently. Competitive salary and benefits. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona Hi 96740 No phone calls please (XAW A�4 ISLAND HUMANE soelBw Animal Health Technician/Kona. FT and PT positions avail- able. Responsible for general healthcare of shelter animals, coordination of duties with management, staff and volunteers. Perform assessment of animal health and behavior, clean and disinfect kennels, and keep accurate logs. Support staff vet- prinarian. Previous animal handling experience preferred. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please Humane Officer/Waimea. FT. Responsible for assisting the public in resolving animal related problems, respond- ing to complaint calls and various shelter duties. Must have good verbal and written communication skills, good people skills, clean driving abstract and ability to work independently. Previous animal handling and customer service experience helpful. Please send resume to: Hawaii Island Humane Society Attn: Franny Kinslow 74-5225 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740 No phone calls please