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HILO OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLUB, INC. <br /> PO Box 83 <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> February 14, 2006 <br /> Council Chair Stacy Higa <br /> and Council Members <br /> County Council <br /> County of Hawai i <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Dear Council Chair Higa and Members of the County Council, <br /> I am writing regarding Bill 4, Draft 6. I am currently President of the Hilo <br /> Obedience Training Club, only one of two obedience clubs on the Island of <br /> Hawaii licensed by the American Kennel Club to hold licensed obedience trials. <br /> Our Club conducts nine dog obedience classes each week with over 300 dogs <br /> attending our classes throughout the year. All of our instructors volunteer <br /> their time to help the dogs and owners in Hilo, Puna, and surrounding areas, <br /> giving up over half of their Saturday to help others. <br /> As part of our training class, we teach citizens how to train their dogs, <br /> benefiting both the community and the animals. Dogs are usually trained <br /> while wearing a 6-foot leash, however, the dogs in the advanced classes train <br /> on longer leashes (light lights) to assist in their training. The dogs need to use <br /> longer leashes when learning advanced exercises (the recall, off-leash heeling, <br /> long sit and down, etc.) <br /> In addition to training owners to train their dogs, we teach citizens how to be <br /> responsible dog owners. We require that each owner have a current County of <br /> Hawaii dog license, and current vaccination record. It seems ironic that while <br /> <br /> we are requiring owners to be responsible, the County Council has come up <br /> <br /> with Bill 4, Draft 6. <br /> <br /> As part of our American Kennel Club licensing, we conduct two licensed <br /> <br /> obedience trials each year. We have approximately 30-40 entrants at each <br /> trial, with about a fourth of them flying into Hilo from Honolulu to support our <br /> Club. They stay at local B&Bs, shop at local stores, and eat at our local <br /> <br /> restaurants, supporting our economy. We bring in a judge from the mainland <br /> <br /> and pay for expenses, further supporting the economy. We cater a lunch for <br /> the judge and exhibitors, again supporting the economy. However, exercises <br /> during the obedience trial include off leash heeling, off leash recalls, off leash <br /> sits and downs, etc. <br /> Comm. Na. L L. <br /> Ref. To: Pr~e~/ <br /> R<,f l~mfe- <br /> <br />