HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0937.027 2004-2006
Mitchell, Megan
From: Murashige, Laura
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1028 AM
To: Mitchell, Megan
Subject: FW: attn: Bob Jacobson Re: Ch. 4 (Animals) revisions
-----Original Message-----
From: Gayle Keller [mailto:gaylekeller@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 9:09 AM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: attn: Bob Jacobson Re: Ch. 4 (Animals) revisions
To Whom It May Concern:
I am in receipt of the proposed changes to our Animal
Control Laws. I have the following concerns over
parts of the proposed changes.
Sec. 4-2 Definitions: Unregistered Cat - implies a
requirement of having cats wearing license tags. Most
veterinarians agree that collars on cats, even the the
break away style are not recommended for cats who
venture outside as they can get caught and may injure
or strangle the animal. Expanding the micro chipping
program for cats would be a more effective (and safer)
way of identifying pet ownership.
Sec. 4-9 Number of Domesticated Animals permitted per
dwelling unit in a residential district. - This by far
is the change that I find the most disturbing. While
limitation on number of pets per family may be a
necessity in high density urban areas such is not the
case on the Big Island.
This change would be a nightmare for animal control
officers; forcing them to take time away from other
more pressing issues (vicious dog and animal abuse
investigations, etc) to enforce a law where no other
crime is being committed other than a family has 3
cats and 2 dogs (all well-cared for), so they are over
the limit. What is far more important is the quality
of life that the pets are experiencing and not the
number of pets an owner may have.
Sec 4-17 - Needs to add that no animal shall be given
as a prize. Countless numbers of small animals given
as prizes, once the novelty wears off the often
unprepared and uneducated owners end up killing these
pets through ignorance of proper care or neglect. Pet
ownership should only be undertaken after researching
the needs of a particular animal and a sincere
interest in owning a pet of this type, not because of
a lucky toss or accurate dart throw!
Sec 4-20 - Issuance of registration and tag. Delete
point 5 requiring license tags for cats. Again, while
microchipping should be employed for all cats adopted A
out of the shelter and encouraged for all existing 1 3
owners through expanded microchipping programs, Comm. No
license tags would pose a safety hazard for cats and Ref. To: P
I Ref. Doty, J U N 2 0 2006
should not be required.
Sec 4-55 Seizure and impoundment of cats and dogs by
officers. Provision needs to be made for groups such
as Advo-cats who actively care for established cat
colonies at Public Beaches and area hotels as a
natural pest control measure and those cats who are
mistakenly turned into animal shelters should be
released to Advo-cat without any redemption fees.
It is important that our laws be in the best interest
of animal care and not to mirror Honolulu laws or for
political expediency. Tread carefully and look at the
ramifications of the changes being suggested - you
want to improve our level of animal control, not mire
it in unenforceable regulations.
Sincerely,
Gayle Keller
Kailua-Kona
808-331-8291
Gayle Keller
808-329-0161/wk-327-1808
gaylekeller@yahoo.com
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