HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0717.060 2004-2006
May 15, 2006
Council Member(s)
Subject: Bili 235/Draft 2 -Operating Budget for the County of Hawaii for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006.
Increasing HIHS spay/neuter discounted coupons. Supportive Testimony.
On March 23, 2006 I wrote a letter requesting more monies to be allotted for the HIHS budget for the spay/neuter
discounted coupons. With that letter was a copy of over 5, 200 signatures on our petition, gathered across this
island, from concerned citizens asking for affordable, and effective S/N program for dogs and cats.
People want anon-lethaUhumane program to stop the tragedy of animal overpopulation that leads to animal
abandonment, and animal abuse. People consistently said they want to have more available and unlimited S/N
discounted coupons.
As mentioned, in my March 23 letter, on Feb 1", only 105 discounted coupons were made available by HIHS,
which sold out on the same day. From Feb 2 -14, over 200 people were turned away that wanted to stop animal
overpopulation via the affordable S/N discounted coupons. So that means the 200 people have lets say one animal
each, therefore that's 200 animals for that timeframe alone that could be producing unwanted animal births if not
sterilized. We need to think and implement prevention, as studies show in six years one fertile female & male dog
and their offspring's could produce 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one pair of male/female cats and then
offspring's could produce 420,000. According to the above formula, the 200 animals that needed to be sterilized,
if allowed to breed, their offspring's would be in the millions, because their owners were not able to buy a
discounted coupon. People have told us, they have gone many times to HIIi5, only to find out the discounted
coupons were constantly sold out. For many it has been discouraging. They also said, they could not get their
animals sterilized without this financial assistance of the discounted coupons. High property taxes, gas spikes,
health/medication and food cost are factors depressing the household budget, leaving little else for other things.
People are stepping forward to be responsible pet owners, but they need your help by making available more
monies into the HIHS spay/neuter budget. No one should be turned away that needs assistance in having their
animal sterilized. Also, our island is unique, as we need our dogs for security and cats to keep the rat population
down. If we don't reach out, and assist, we than are contributing equally to the tragic and unnecessary animal
overpopulation. Keeping in mind, what is furthering this problem is that this island has been without a Humane
Society Veterinarian for over 2 years.
Presently before you, is Bill 235, Operating Budget for the County of Hawaii for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006, to
June 30, 2007. We need the HIHS spaylneuter fund to be increased and no less than $100,000, and I pray you will
even consider much more, at least $150,000.
As a tourist state, we must also protect our image of the "Aloha Paradise", we can not afford negative publicity
as uncaring to our island animals, or preferring to kill animals, which studies show doesn't work, becomes much
more costly, and a no end or no solution - "vicious kill mentality cycle".
Also, one must bear in heart, that animal abuse according to the research, is the first stepping-stones to child
and women abuse. Therefore, $100,000 or more, increase to the animal sterilization program is well worth the
investment. By doing so, we are truly being humane and a gemle kinder society to our island people, and for our
island animals. And now we have over 5,200 people's signatures on our petition in support to increase the
affordable coupon S/N program.
Respectively yours, CAA ~ ~
Frances Pueo,968-8279
P.O. Box 943
Mt. View, Hi 96771 Ref. TwP~~
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