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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0190.000 1998-2000 ~ ~ West Hawaii Humane Society ; P.O. Box 2695 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745 • (808) 329-2051 • Fax: 329-6721 4 i February 24, 1999 To -Harry Takahashi From -Ginger Towle Subject -Animal Control Contract for Wes[ Hawaii 1 had a long talk with Mayor Yamashiro this morning and he directed me to send this letter to you. West Iiawaii Humane Society questions and disagrees with your decision to award the contract for the West Hawaii area to Hawaii Island Humane Society. We respectfully request that you reevaluate the proposals and reconsider your decision. This request is based on valid corcems and documented evidence. This contract was based not only on [he budget, but also the professionalism of the staff. The ability to handle the contract for the whole island was a factor. We question the validity of asking an agency to bid a contract for the whole island when the county only owns the West Hawaii shelter. West Hawaii Humane Society had the contract until 1990. Barry Mizuno, the new Finance Director, asked about our shelter procedures. Upon hearing that 1 kept some of the animals long term, he said 1 would have to kill them after the minitnpm time (48 hours for strays and 9 days for licensed dogs). The alternative was to pay the county $2.50 per day for each animal that we kept over the stipulated time limit. I explained that most of the food was provided free of charge and that there was only limited cage and kennel space, this would limit the number of animals kept for adoption. We felt [he community should be able to have a selection from the best animals turned into [he shelter. (asked him if he really cared which animals were eating the food? I also explained 1 had worked as an animal control officer and had a badge, no salary, and that West I lawaii Humane Society had just finished approximately $50,000.00 of improvements to the shelter. Barry just commented that they would just have to maintain those facilities if we left. We could not afford the $2.50 per day per animal and we refused to kill according to his mandated schedule. We did not sign the contract. Pa[ Gorman from 1lawaii Island Humane Society said he had "no problem" with the new requirement. On January I5, 1992, liarry Takahashi, as Legislature Auditor sent a report to [he Committee on Finance. This was a financial audit of Hawaii Island Humane Society. Comm. 3229. On page 7 of [his report Harry Takahashi reported his findings. "We could not find any legal authority for the County to assess the Humane Society a charge of $2.50 per day for animals kept..." I tarry also felt that the contract should be under the Finance Department West Hawaii Humane Society worked under the Police Department. We feel that this is part of the problem and accounts for the lack of monitoring of the Animal Control Contract. This is notjust a matter of finances, it is law enforcement. Our proposal stated that Madelyn Barrea would be [he Executive Director. She has 4 years experience and is a working manager. She has taken [he National Animal Control Association 'Training and passed withp Comm. No. / ( O File Na_ ~ N l Ref. To:_~ FC__,~ Ref. bate MAR 41999 .r 100% score. We would also hire Ron Sakata, an experienced officer. We outlined all [he Board members who have previous experience and would again be volunteering at the shelter. Lisa Fowler, the current Executive Director, has an office background and is from Honolulu, she was on the Board of Directors of the Honolulu Humane Society. She does have a badge, however, does write citations as a rule. No other staff at the Kona shelter is [rained or has a badge. Without that badge you cannot write citations. Their three month report, July, August and September, due October 3l", arriving at the Finance office on January 111h showed over 160 dogs redeemed and only 12 citations written. Citations should have been given for straying and no license when applicable. They listed 7 other citations but didn't identify. This is the main problem. No one is enforcing [he laws. People let their dogs run all over and if impounded nothing happens, just go pick up your dog. Check the other activity reports and you will see the same pattern. Fees collected from citations go to the State. Could the State hold the County responsible for the lack of funds lost due to nonperformance of the animal control contract? We figure it at least $35,000.00 per year. We also proposed to assist the police with barking dog calls, as we did before. We would also ask the police [o forward all animal control calls to [he humane society. The police should no[ have to take [heir tune with animal calls unless needed because of a serious or dangerous situation. Vicious Dog Appeal cases would be heard according [o the rules written by Fred Giannini. Shawn Nakoa established a procedure whereby she dropped the vicious dog designation if the officer who issued [he citation did not appear within I S minutes of meeting time. She is supposed to have all the information in case the officer is tenable to attend a[ the last minute. Dropping [he vicious dog designation under these circumstances could leave the County open [o a lawsuit. Of course she did offer to train the police ofticers. We proposed returning all the animal sale fees, except $10.00 per animal, back to the County. This is to assist in paying the salary of a veterinarian. Having a veterinarian on staff has many advantages. You can adopt out healthy animals that are already spayed and neutered. With a veterinarian on staff you can legally order sodimn pentobarbital and tranquilizers. Currently Hawaii Island Humane Society does get sodium pentobarbital and transport it around to all the shelters. "Phis is noC legal. According to the law you must have a veterinarian on staff to use this drug. Just faxing him the amount used really is not the letter of the law. Veterinarians in West Hawaii do not understand how this is happening. Not one of them here would order it for such use. Could [his backfire on the County in case of an accident? Using sodium pen in this manner, without tranquilizers to handle the difficult dogs means you are manhandling them and it's dangerous for the staff. Oh yes, staff is also supposed to be trained to do this procedure. Check [ha[ out! We would also have early morning and late evening patrols as needed. We would close at 6:00 P.M. to give people time to visit the shelter and look for lost pets. At present [he Kona shelter closes at 3:30 P.M., Hilo shelter closes at 5:30 P. M. Dog licenses are being sold for $2.10 without verification, recently an intact male was issued a $2.10 license. The ads for spay neuter certificates also say to send $2.10 for the license. This is not legal. The Parks Dept had to call the police for assistance when the Humane Society refused to go out to White Sands beach for a pit bull. The police department called [he Humane Society and [hey then did go out. Kona police received a call from a woman who asked for help with some rabbits in her yard. 7'he Humane Society was called, they told the police officer to call the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources. Under Chapter 4, Section 4-32-I (b) The finance director shall verify [hat a person designated by a humane society [o serve as a humane officer is qualitied and [rained to serve in [hat capacity. The finance director shall be empowered to establish minimum requirements for yualitica[ion and training. The contract also calls for the board of directors to be responsible for the qualifications of their staff. There isn't any staff at the Kona shelter, at [his time, that is qualified or [rained!!! I think there is confusion on the part of Hawaii Island Humane Society regarding their responsibilities. The contract is for Animal Control. The executive Director is responsible for the animal control program which means she is responsible for seeing [hat the laws are enforced and citations issued and the animals in her charge well cared for at all times. Aboard is responsible for their employees and they need to be in touch and know what is happening a[ [he shelters. Madelyn Barrea and other board members are constantly called about problems. Kunning dogs, [he dog or cat that adopted was ill, tiny unweaned kittens in cages with regular ca[ food. We can give you a long list of names of people who would love to tell you more. We've been called about the fact that [here are so few cats for adoption, only 5 or 6. The large cat area now has dogs. The sheet metal in the dog runs is pulled up in many kennels creating sharp corners [hat can injure a dog. While still a Hawaii Island Humane Society employee Madelyn Barrea had [he front area cleared of all large rocks and fill was spread to even the lo[, all for free. She was going to have a grassy area for [able etc. Now it's just a big patch of weeds. The complaints go on and on. The County Council has received stacks of complaints. A petition with several hundred names was sent asking for West Hawaii hlumane Society and Madelyn [o return [o [he Kona shelter. I will have [o put a letter to [he Editor in the Hilo paper [o le[ the public know that wolf/dog mix breeds are no[ legal in [his state. The public is to call the Quarantine Center in Kona and make a report. A woman had called the Hilo shelter to report the problem with several of these wolf/dogs in her neighborhood. There is a man in [he subdivision raising them. Hawaii Island Humane Society told her [hey were legal. Does anyone take a look a[ [he expenditures of 1{awaii Island Humane Society. We keep asking how come there was a $500.00 for postage on one 6 month report. How come there are charges for staff meeting. Over $1,000.00 for the volunteer program. Who bough[ the station wagon for Shawn Nakoa (that Lisa Fowler is now driving) when she firs[ became an employee for fiawaii Island Humane Society. W'e realize, chat from an accountants stanJpoint, having onl}' one contract might be the easiest. However, you have more control of the program if you have two agencies. 1 feel that the Police Department should be back in the picture. TO SUMMERIZE The County is no[ getting its money's worth!! Wes[ Hawaii Humane Society has a track record of enforcing the laws and a good relationship with the Police Department. Madelyn Barrea is a professional trained Animal Control Officer and would be a working manager. She is qualified [o train her personnel. W.H.H.S. can call on retired Police Majors Hank Silva and Dennis Correa for help in training problems.. I will be out of [own until March 9°i. I look forward to discussing [his further on my return. Copies [o - Frank lung, Esquire Stephen D. Whittaker, Esquire Mayor Steve Yamashiro Aaron Chung, James Arakaki Police Chief Wayne G. Carvalho Ass[. Chief Thomas Hickcox