Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0561.003 2014-2016Murashige, Laura P I Ps MTO coww. 5O From: John Bertram <bertram7718@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 8:41 PM To: Council Testimony Subject: Hawaii Island Humane Society oversight. John Bertram PO Box 44413 Kamuela, HI 96743 Last year the HIHS took in approximately 14,000 animals. Of those animals, about 10,000 were euthanized. How is that caring for the animals entrusted to them? Currently the HIHS adopts to anyone who can pay the adoption fee.. There is no interview process, no home visit, no guarantee that the animal will, actually, be going to a loving home. Many of the animals are leaving the shelter to lead lives of misery chained in someone's yard with no veterinary care or human interaction. The HIHS has not only let down the public trust; but, more importantly, the trust of the animals they were put in place to protect. While the HIHS is adopting animals out to anyone who can pay the adoption fee, they are demanding that any other animal welfare organization that wants to adopt from the HIHS sign a contract. That contract insists on HIHS overseeing the fate of any animal that leaves the facility, including interviewing the prospective adoptive family. Why would the HIHS interview an adoptive family from another organization when they don't even do it for the animals that they adopt out of their own shelters? The HIHS does no advertising of their reduced cost spay/neuter vouchers. Not all vets accept them, including Dr. Beth Jose, the veterinarian who is on the board of directors of the IMS. For an organization that claims that eliminating pet overpopulation as its primary mission, having the vet from the board not accept the spay/neuter coupons is very suspect. The Big Island should look to Maui for an example of how to properly spay/neuter large amounts of animals. They have implemented MASH style tents that spay/neuter hundred of animals in a two day period for FREE. The EMS receives 2.1 million dollars in tax payer money each year. The council needs to immediately appoint an oversight committee, made up of members of the rescue community working in a partnership, to oversee the workings of the HIHS. The euthanasia rate of the HIHS needs to be reduced drastically — ideally down to less than 10%. The county council needs to insist upon honest reporting from the HIHS, implement in depth quality controls, and conduct performance reviews of the organization annually. If the board and director are not on board to lower the kill rate and agree to oversight the council must require their immediate resignation. Enough is enough. The killing needs to stop now. Sincerely, John Bertram ern. No. - Ref. To: Rif.Date i November 16, 2015 s n County of Hawaii — Councily 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua Kona, HI 96740 Re: Hawaii Island Humane Society Dear Sir or Madam of the Council: I am writing to let you know that I have no support for the Hawaii Island Humane Society in its current state. Te organization has shown little regard for the animals that are trusted to its care. The 70% euthanasia rate is proof of that. Last year the HIHS took in approximately 14,000 animals. Of those animals, about 10,000 were euthanized. How is that caring for the animals entrusted to them? Currently the HIHS adopts to anyone who can pay the adoption fee.. There is no interview process, no home visit, no guarantee that the animal will, actually, be going to a loving home. Many of the animals are leaving the shelter to lead lives of misery chained in someone's yard with no veterinary care or human interaction. The HIHS has not only let down the public trust; but, more importantly, the trust of the animals they were put in place to protect. While the HIHS is adopting animals out to anyone who can pay the adoption fee, they are demanding that any other animal welfare organization that wants to adopt from the HIHS sign a contract. That contract insists on HIHS overseeing the fate of any animal that leaves the facility, including interviewing the prospective adoptive family. Why would the HIHS interview an adoptive family from another organization when they don't even do it for the animals that they adopt out of their own shelters? The HIHS does no advertising of their reduced cost spay/neuter vouchers. Not all vets accept them, including Dr. Beth Jose, the veterinarian who is on the board of directors of the IMS. For an organization that claims that eliminating pet overpopulation as its primary mission, having the vet from the board not accept the spay/neuter coupons is very suspect. The Big Island should look to Maui for an example of how to properly spay/neuter large amounts of animals. They have implemented MASH style tents that spay/neuter hundred of animals in a two day period for FREE. The EMS receives 2.1 million dollars in tax payer money each year. The council needs to immediately appoint an oversight committee, made up of members of the rescue community working in a partnership, to oversee the workings of the HIHS. The euthanasia rate of the HIHS needs to be reduced drastically — ideally down to less than 10%. The county council needs to insist upon honest reporting from the HIHS, implement in depth quality controls, and conduct performance reviews of the organization annually. If the board and director are not on board to lower the kill rate and agree to oversight the council must require their immediate resignation. Enough is enough. The killing needs to stop now. Sincerely, John Bertram ern. No. - Ref. To: Rif.Date i