HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0022.065 2004-2006 ~f~
Match 30, 2005 c~.~.d ('~ii;l '~I ~ /
Councilman Fred Holschuh ~
Councilman Pete Hoffinan & Council Members +,C..;~r<.
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Councilman Holschuh, Rottman, and other Council Members:
As a fourth generation citizen of this County, l am writing you today to OBJECT to Bi114, Draft
5 in its revised format. This law doesn't address the true lifestyle of our kamaaina families of
this County.
I specifically have concerns regarding the proposed hike in licensing fees. Article 3, Section 4-
12 of Bi114, Draft 5 states that monies received from the license fees shall be deposited into the
spay-neuter special fund. These dog license fees should be applied to dogs ONLY, and should
not be used to spay and neuter CATS. As you aze well awaze, Hawaii County has a problem
with cats. Cats are one of the main reasons dogs bark, and they aren't required to be on leash,
nor aze they subject to a noisy cat ]aw. This County seems to be anti-dog, yet dogs have always
been "man's best friend". There are also many feral cats out there as well as domestic cats.
Cats kill birds, including those that are threatened or endangered. Many feral cats kill gamebirds
as well as native birds. Have there been provisions to eradicate feral cats considering that they
may be a contributing factor to the decline of native bird species? Many years back the sheep on
Mauna Kea were eradicated to protect the palila, yet the sheep did not directly kill or eat the
palila. Feral cats do kill birds. This bill needs to provide for cat licensing fees as well, and there
should be a penalty for feeding and nurturing of feral cats.
Section 4-18 states that dogs are not allowed in County parks. Why would we pay license fees
for our dogs if the dogs cannot utilize parks to be exercised? Many parks on Oahu allow dogs as
long as people clean up after their dogs. Seems like our County is stricter than Honolulu and we
live in the country.
The noisy dog section also needs to be looked at more carefully. Section 4-24 (b) indicates
times when dogs can bark more than other times. That makes no sense considering not everyone
sleeps during those hows that are stated. These proposed laws seem to have been changed to
benefit a few complainer;,. Most responsible dog owners will not allow their dogs to bark and
will check on the reason why the dog is barking. Do not make changes to this section and you
need to look at the reasons dogs sometimes bazk. There are many burglaries in this County and
dogs may bark at night because strangers are stalking yow neighborhood. Laws should not be
changed to suit a few people who have problems, and hurt the vast majority of people who are
responsible dog owners.
Section 4-25 deals with penalties for noisy dogs. Section (a) should remain on the bill and not
be deleted. For years graving up in Hawaii County, neighbors have been just as important as
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family. You see your neighbors almost everyday, but do you see your family? Most people try
to work things out with their neighbors unless they come from the Mainland cities where your
neighbors aren't considered important. This would kill the "aloha spirit", and make people more
hostile towazd each other. I realize that there may be people out there that aze afraid to approach
their neighbors because of possible drug problems, however not everyone lives next to a drug
dealer, and by the law requiring people to complain to the police first would only make matters
worse. If you do indeed live next to a drug dealer, and are required to call the police or humane
society first, would this not anger your neighbor and cause more animosities? These
amendments must be thought through very cazefully before making them the law of the land.
Section 4-32-1 deals with who will be enforcing these laws. Making enforcement officers out of
the humane society's prese;nt staff is a big concern. Many of these people have no law
enforcement backgrounds. This needs a lot of research and study before it is implemented.
I urge you NOT to pass Bill 4, Draft 5 without getting input from dog clubs, hunting clubs,
obedience clubs, and dog lovers in general. Preserving the rural lifestyle and our kamaaina
ways is imperative to the quality of life on our island for our generation and futwe generations.
We do not want this County to turn into a satellite city of a Mainland community. That would
be horrible. Please preserve our way of life and what is left of it.
Mahalo nui loa!!
Sincerely,
Ed Lewis
PO Box 405
Kapaau, Hawaii 96755