HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0561.011 2014-2016PIPSMIc
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Murashige, Laura
From: Kathy Peters <kathy@danielspeters.com>
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 11:28 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Written testimony for distribution to all council members
Attachments: 2015-11-16@22.41.02.pdf
Attached is written testimony signed by 32 Big Island residents.
Please confirm receipt and distribution of the testimony.
Thank you,
Kathleen Peters
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Ref: Date -NOV 17 ZO
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November 16, 2015
TO: The Hawaii County Council
RE: Written testimony on The Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) and Big Island Dog
Rescue (BIDR)
Dear Chairman Pekela and Council Members:
Earlier this year, the HIHS finally implemented a much needed protocol (partnership agreement)
to ensure that adopted animals were protected from organized dog traffickers. The problems with
dog trafficking have been drawing national attention with groups such as the National Animal
Interest Alliance (based in Portland, OR) who report that: "Humane relocation, dog trafficking,
the "Puppy Pipeline" — whatever you call it, the practice is still relatively unknown outside of
the organized animal community and to a lesser extent, law enforcement and media circles" -
Nancy Halpern, DVM, ESQ. Ocot 13, 2015. There are numerous articles published on these
problems and Raymond Connors, a Connecticut animal control officer says "It's a
multimillion -dollar industry," prompting the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to pass laws
to regulate the industry with an "Animal Importers Law."
It is troubling to say the least, that BIDR refuses to sign the HIHS partnership agreement that was
created to protect Big Island animals. Many of us in the community who have worked with
animal welfare causes for many years and have volunteered with local animal rescue
organizations have great concerns. Some of our concerns about BIDR include but are not limited
to:
1. Transporting dogs and puppies right after surgery. The current transport methods encouraged
by BIDR are directly against the recommendation of basic standards of veterinary care. BIDR
often transports shelter dogs within 24 to 48 hours after having been spayed or neutered. The
concern with transporting any animal within 7-10 days post surgery is that the animal does not
receive adequate time to recover nor does it receive proper follow-up care. It is standard
veterinary procedure to allow a dog or cat undergoing spay or neuter surgery to recover for up to
10 days. That means, no jumping/running or sudden movements, monitoring the incision site for
signs of infection or openings, discouraging licking or chewing at the incision site, watching for
signs of pain and ensuring the animal is eating and drinking normally. Additionally, reducing
stress as much as possible for a full recovery is also recommended. The dogs transported by
BIDR receive no standard recovery time prior to travel, no pain meds and no follow-up care.
They are simply shuffled from shelter to plane to shelter or unknown source.
2. Questionable procedures that BIDR uses to obtain health certificates and whether or not
transported dogs are receiving adequate assessment prior to air transport. The US Interstate and
International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals (APHIS Form 7001) is an
official document .issued and signed by a licensed, accredited veterinarian providing verification
that an animal, or group of animals, was inspected and found apparently healthy and showing no
signs of contagious or communicable disease on the date of inspection. BIDR :is currently under
investigation by the USDA for fraudulent heath certificates. The USDA requires examinations by
a licensed vet prior to issuing a heath certificate. In addition, the information on a certificate may
only be filled out under the presence of a licensed veterinarian. BIDR directly violated both
requirements as seen on a YouTube video Brian posted of himself filling out several health
certificates in his own garage. He commented that because the dogs had been recently spayed and
neutered that they already had been previously examined, thus he was saving time and money by
preparing the health certificate himself. In addition, BIDR has also altered the breeds of some
dogs to allow for travel, yet another violation (see Exhibit A).
Fraudulent Health Certificates are a serious concern because they directly impact the validity of
the certificate, the critical traceability of animal movement, the credibility of the accredited
veterinarian and the consumer.
The above information was sent to Dr. Timothy Falls, DVM with the USDA and the case was
assigned to Dr. Larry C. Rawson, DVM who is the USDA/APHIS/VS District 6 Assistant
Director for Hawaii on 10/1.2/15. On 11/10/1.5, Dr. Rawson verified that they are currently
working with an investigator. Dr. Rawson's phone contact is 91.6-854-3950.
3. We have great concerns that BIDR's primary receiving shelter (Their "hub") is Columbia
Humane Society under the leadership of Dean Cox (see Exhibit B) who has been open about the
fact that they sell and get residual monthly payments for dogs that they provide to the for-profit
business, The Hannah Society. BIDR calls Dean Cox their "mentor" and CHS their "hub". It
has recently come to our attention that as of November 11, 2015, Dean Cox has been terminated
from the Columbia Humane Society (see Exhibit Q.
The fact that Dean Cox has been a vocal proponent for selling dogs to Hannah Society raises
many concerns because of the criticisms and concerns that other veterinarians and animal welfare
ID
groups have expressed about The Hannah Society and the fact that NO OTHER SHELTER will
agree to send them dogs. (For a more reasons why we object to animals going to the Hannah
Society please see !Aip;l/w vv�Linai�thsociet.vex_ sed.sgra/,iQ)out-haniiah-societ In
4. In addition to CHS, BIDR claims to be in working partnerships with the following
shelters/organizations:
Seattle Humane Society
Pixie Project
Spokane Animal Shelter
Idaho Humane Society
Puget Sound Shelter
Spokeanimal.
Each facility manager was contacted in August 2015 and it was found that NONE of the claimed
organizations were partners with BIDR. Additionally, only Pixie Project had ever received dogs
2
from BIDR, but at the time they were contact in August, their representative reported that it had
been several months since they had received any dogs from the Big Island. Several other
surrounding shelters were also contacted and just like the others, none had heard of BIDR, Brian
(Tasi) Autele nor had ever accepted any Big Island dog transfers. To date, only CHS and Pixie
have received dogs through BIDR, but exact numbers cannot be accounted for.
5. Lack of any evidence of where these dogs are actually ending up. Columbia Humane Society is
a small shelter located in a very rural area of Oregon. Many of the dogs sent to them from Hawaii
never made it onto their adoptables website. There is no accounting for where Hawaii dogs are
ending up nor the outcomes. When BIDR volunteers offered to track Hawaii dogs for them to
improve transparency and allay some of the concerns of the public, BIDR refused all help to keep
track of the whereabout of the transferred dogs and they deleted any comments on their FB page
that offered to assist with tracking dogs. BIDR posts vague outcomes for various dogs that have
been transferred. For example, On November I I "i, 2015, Tasi Autele stated that "All 6 <dogs
transported> went to a private family." (See Exhibit D) It would be highly unusual that ONE
private party would adopt all 6 dogs transported. In another recent FaceBook post they claim a
Hawaii dog was adopted from "xxxxx Humane Society". The name of the shelter is redacted.
from the message (see Exhibit E). Why would BIDR have to hide what shelter Darla was
adopted from since they have previously made their list of alleged partnering shelters public?
6. It is a known fact that BIDR was asking donors to "sponsor" a dog for $350. That $350 was to
cover costs associated with transporting a dog to the mainland. Now, BIDR asks $250 to
"sponsor" each dog to cover "medical transfer prep, microchipping, sterilization, vaccination.
rabies, heartworm prevention or treatment, health certification, and transportation from to a U.S.
Mainland shelter." The fact is, dogs that BIDR adopts from the HIHS are already sterilized,
microchipped, vaccinated, heart worm tested, and given a heart worm and flea preventative.
Those costs are already covered by The HIHS.
7. In addition to the $250 they ask members of our community to sponsor dog, BIDR directly
"adopts" out cats for $500 and dogs for $650 (See Exhibit F).
8. BIDR claims their objective is to reduce the euthanasia rate at the HIHS. However, they want
to do this by adopting out dogs that only fit within their "formula", not the actual dogs that are
difficult to place. Tasi Autele presented his "formula" as:
"Medium dogs less than 40 pounds, not black, not pits, under 5 years, good health, no
aggression. Doesn't cower. This said, we can send l out of every 10 can be pit, 1 every 7
can be black, 1 out of 7 can be over 40 pounds, 0 can be aggressive" (see Exhibit G).
The HIHS currently has a 5.9% euthansia rate for adoptable dogs (fiscal year 2014-201.5). BIDR
often uses scare tactics saying that the HIHS euthanizes 70% of the animals at the shelter (see
Exhibit B). The HIHS euthanised 124 out of 2092 adoptable dogs for the 2014 fiscal year, afar
cry from the 70% the claim. Unfortunately, if BIDR sticks to their formula, this number will
NEVER be zero because BIDR does not want dogs over 5 years of age, who are black, who are
pitbulls, or any dog who shows aggression. If you have ever visited the HIHS shelters, you
would understand that it is not the young, friendly, healthy puppies that are making up the 5.9%
of dogs euthanized. It is the 12 year old dogs who are in poor health, the dogs who have the bad
skin conditions, the nervous dogs who don't like being petted — those are the dogs that make up
the 5.9%, not the dogs that BIDR transports to the mainland. BIDR's formula leaves behind the
dogs that are often overlooked by the general public. They eliminate specific breeds, colors, age
and temperament yet publicly criticize the HIHS for euthanizing animals.
In closing, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, are asking the Hawaii County Council to ensure that the
HIHS is providing for the safety and well-being of animals being adopted out of their shelters,
especially those that are being moved off -island in large numbers by organizations who refuse to
sign the HMS's partnership agreement and who refuse to disclose where these animals end up.
We do not know whether these animals are being moved off -island purely for profit, for sale to
un -regulated private for-profit companies like Hannah Society who have no accountability to
provide their euthanasia rates, or for more nefarious entities such as those involved in the dog
meat trade, and Class B animal dealers who sell animals to laboratories for use in testing.
Toni Ann Symons, 45 year Big Island resident, 58 year animal lover and protector,
long time advocate for children and education. Donated to BIDR "Burned Cat Fund"
where $500+ was collected and never used to treat the "burned" cat. I requested a
refund from Tasi Autele and he refused.
Kara Coffer, Kona, former HIHS employee for 3 years and vet tech at Kona Vet
Service for 4 yrs.
Robin Protzman, Kona resident and nurse
Devin Moniz, Kona Resident, Owner of Ohana Pet Sitters, former Alii Veterinary
Hospital Veterinary Assistant for 5 years.
Daylynn Branco Kyles, President of Aloha Ilio Rescue, LLC, Rescue -partner of HIHS,
former founder and president of Hawaii Rottweiler Verein, Kennel Trainer -
Woodland, CA. (LTC Davis PD dogs),Dog Rescuer for 29 years on the Big Island of
Hawaii, Big Island resident for 45 years, Employed, Hawaii Police Department -16
years, Federal Fire Dept - 4 years
Bryant Sawada, Kona, Former HIHS Animal Control Officer
Kiana Larson, former HIHS volunteer and employee of 7 years
Mario Romero, Kona resident, HIHS foster volunteer
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Jocy Solano, Kona resident for 18 years, vet tech at Alii Veterinary Hospital for 8
years
Mary E Wilson, LPN. Lifetime animal rescuer, FORMER foster and volunteer for
KARES, and FORMER BIDR supporter.
Kathleen Peters, PhD, 18 year Kona Resident, retired clinical psychologist,
foster/volunteer/supporter for HIHS and Aloha Ilio Rescue. FORMER volunteer for
KARES, I no longer support KARES.
Ellen Hiromasa, Kona Resident
Julie Klaz, Kona Resident
Kevin Chatfield, HIHS volunteer, Kona resident
Rachel Kirk, co-owner, Nose for Adventure dog boarding and day care, HIHS and
Aloha Ilio Rescue foster volunteer.
Lisa J. Sims full time Kona resident 16 + years, Manager, Sims Central LLC, Retired
Police Sergeant 17 years, FORMER donor to BIDR - I requested a refund of my
donation when Tasi Autele admitted that the money he collected was never spent to
treat the allegedly "burned" cat. He stated that the cat was only really dirty and that
he "released" the cat back in his neighborhood.
Dawn Goehring, Pahoa, Professional Animal Trainer/Behavior Specialist 24 years
experience. Humane educator with rescue dogs in CA, TN and now HI. Former
employee Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Former BOD president of Sevier County
Humane Society. Former volunteer, foster mom and behavior specialist for: Sevier
County Humane Society, Pets Without Parents, E.TN Border Collie Rescue, Small
Breed Rescue of E. TN. Current volunteer HIHS, Aloha Ilio Rescue. FORMER
supporter of BIDR.
Kevin Chatfield, HIHS volunteer, Kona resident
Regina DoDaro Romero Serrano former veterinary technician, HIHS volunteer and
donor, Advocats volunteer and Kona resident.
Karen Desilva Gillespie, 12 year Kona resident and former Vet Tech for Alii Vet - 6
years
Nicky Brockman, volunteered at HIHS for 11 years, Dog trainer
5
Robin Hill, Kona resident, owner Nose for Adventure, LLC, dog boarding and
daycare
Jane Wiedlin
Fulltime resident Hilo, 30 year animal advocate, Founding member: The Go-Go's (all
female American poprock band), Former manager: Bob Farner Wildlife Waystation
Former manager: AARFF (Agoura Animal Rescue and Fostering Fund), Former
volunteer: Crestcare (Chinese Crested Dog Rescue), Former volunteer: GSCA
(Golden State Greyhound Adoption),Current foster partner: HIHS, Current
volunteer: Aloha Ilio
Anna White, Owner Healthy Hounds Hawaii, Kona Resident
Chris and Melissa Ronan, Founder and former owners of Nose for Adventure
boarding and.daycare in Kona
Pat Van Every, Kona Resident
Deborah Hillman, Full time Kea'au resident for 5 years, Rescue animal advocate for
25 years, Member Orchid Isle Dog Agility, Current volunteer for Kea'au HIHS
Current donor and volunteer for Aloha Ilio Rescue, Former volunteer, supporter and
team member of Big Island Dog Rescue
Beth Evesong, Full time Kea'au resident for 5 years, Business owner of Seashore
Collections, Hilo, Member of Orchid Isle Dog Agility, Animal advocate for 25 years
Current supporter and donor of HIHS and Aloha Ilio Rescue
Natalie Posey, Kona Resident and animal advocate
Rhonda Pollard (Honokaa, HI),Owner, Lava Dogs Hawaii, Current volunteer, HIHS
Kay Moniz, Kona Resident, professional equestrian for 25 years, supervising Vet
Tech for 5 years at a large veterinary practice.
2
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HIHS,tae s.jn around'14 000 a'mals 6. yeard';a k
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Itle county awards -the: H I H,5- $2, I -rpfiljon o 0 :,.tax do] JYar:td
conflnue,this �hc�nou�: ptadm,.
Over 200,sheitibks in: 54. �p.unie* siaqioss thUS?�jiaveeqded, lihe Apphajt
practice ofaUthanizing as aV'aYto-c_6qfto�,l act p&rYUWiort;
TheCOUM-4t Austri a''ll"aly'and n- 6re, hb -ki it natifpail s,
We have. -been Pifer 'd theVs,66f,Dearvc- �.Wh' 'DVr
eNper Ox pw .,nelptorour
communih/ thru -a ira Ition Irprnbig
County c-buntil must immediately aMemdtha HIHS aontractto. in �3ze
caritiv ,
100% We relea.se -(Ale,
County coupp'll muatirfirtleoiately app Qrsito com . 4 6,e. of -pint a 0'
membWS We dfONTI frOft'Ahe' reS0Wr'(;oMrn'yYT*' mWng,in a,,. non2
CoOwy poijncil must.dernArtd an.hones
re 'n &;41,
depth quality control and,performarice reviOws ofH -8�
Pounty counoll, must raqjuirp, Immei'f'
da e resignation 6f the, dJ(e&fbr.,ar.,aqy
board rerun wtio, refuse to m0et: ter d com-munittes. der ppcifor no. Wir and
worm dfligently: brn#ko. that vWGfta rq4l(ityi,
County councR ad, o,
Koawe (Th6 Big llsla'ndl), K"
-As -a rio.killzone rnaktng.-jV3*J,1l,a caunty lawi,
emaied Kiri E1rcYcttto4d:at, xi ;Nvyember 2w5 iG: afi ¢ IYriYteii ii} +4c etrt%etr ( e
l Cx-nis ZITlimaU ta"katt to 0 1 -(qgoxz liu
manaS(Yvivtxxopb,0111
srdt i. lscitaa ue;Ics rea ert e:xat t.tt ktrt a c at Ito,
Abi ulrt tinge rvere made at..tho ,
Col utlrlria;'tutnane SoCiet�b 1`uesd4a��
evening, in a move the CHS botird
� k returrecl io as' restructurin
The 0148 board"of (B ectorsvoted.'to
fil s.tiecuiia
cic'ez;ttxr;•%eaia �;;,.arrd'trairsi'�z•
animids out ofthe shelter Wall, Oree�on,
Hurr an SocieEyrshelt<r�']n Pofflai.id,
aecc k1'1Itl;.to the'd-lS board, 0'f
lmi Furnian, chair. offlio C -14S board
of. ciiretsteixs, deeli rc d to go into detail ab iait, be decisimis, ut paid d :sb&,e �
Mli',undergo l?uildir►g roliair:§'and operati ig li ur 4r�i13. e tt:rrxpe�ra ril��'r ciuccd�, -
Even c j li tlai tirttr7sf r of aiiirna s� the.slrofter w4is opev tiny 4%t,iust under
eapaciity{ 'Lclraesdity-rnoraiiiig, f`�iimarl said.
Ship said the beard recently readied oiit to OITS foi- laid ince and iyas given
fcii rnrriiitkoirs ofl criir nratty at hnf is the �Iiehef shotilc`1:be;I pitsing,
�'1�Ve trret r�=ith CiI-iS . 4tci clid;t.l�it ctl'}�Irintrirrg he#•ortx xn�tl:ixt,� this rlircisicrit;,'
Furman said, 'The st0[ff 7t" this shelter wK�ilct ci ti�ixc�rrr�ly irsit el 1 Ite}r'lcatre.tlie�c,
ttrriiir�aIs."
�n'iirrais �t�ill r�uraixr tittlr� sIaelter airtl ade�ptitrirs will ccintititie,.desjrite tl�tia
reduced olxei stiti ;Iti�tirs,;rt:ire�i release from C1Is iild cited. 'llie :Coli nlWa.
Cori ty.11ogConterol pi:ogram, wli eh ut']ize.s.tile'Shelter-to teniptmrily-hous+�.
stray= and:lost dotsp �a=ill e;cii-ttinue�its4cilic�i�aki�irs t]Ye.re, rirzntitrslicl.`
14itunxui:of Craitaxrctal irisola�ciaGr at.0 l43 lingeredttedTresdayF rnorialag,
follpaining elle decisrotrs l urinan; kll y said she rtntl a,fcyv Bather s lYave se r�reacl oil
tlt GIIS b.Qarcl for'les.tlxzz a ytea, s<ticl !'its �kie lt.t is°n7t.iiisealvent, but '
ruana;�n�ti�stz�smay'ha��bn���r4ir�l�rt:. ;
We've been wotchirr&a pays yg attention, but `tire tvere xxe w aid w4lite'd to
do o r Blue diti,ioree," l<urlxian said, rretiiig itrG �=nieinber hra x>cl. so talrt let;al
cvtzrsel fx•4iri air rrttc�i•nt:y li�forc zi`nlalei�t:zrtiug t�lie chiiiges.:
1 nutzci'tl Statements for Of,18 itidicai,e the slii'ltet.o�uratecl ora. a ntaarly'
$visoo deficit in lois, trim was able tc evcn.ueby=,
eWe're, in th6proe<ess of;)`iguring 6ut.oN7&}'twng that SVcnt oh,' latuiraitn id.
"Donol-s nt<ed-to lei: assail ed'tli..ittlieir dot,iitrons a're'a# 'I ho re'asons we'vG
t<al�en the actions I liryt fir lia4Tc ar'to ltrotc ct the trritron'cif'tlie �nge;nt:inei the
s�iffet? trf the anirmiIs
� irinrals tr�iisferrecl tel the:C71TS,slrel[eirwill. k idbpe bnt, a:C'.kis.r ews
r�lcaSe•stttt�,5. ', _
ltee oufly, fbe rio-ktll sl eltc>,.r av is lrtticleil torr zts`tra►ispott pretpt am, wliie h
hri tight aixirrrt%Is born rititi-of statt>. shclterrs avrth: riglr euthanrasia, rate to th:e
106,•tl shelter•, N411i h boasts adovbo' ns rates`oklia to (A er�e<iat:
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All donations are tax deductable as BIDR is a registered 501c3 nonprofit corporation
OM ING SOON: Direct Adoption Program. Price for dog will be $500 cat or kitten adopted to and sent tc
the continental U.S. and $650 for a puppy. Animals available for adoption will be able to FaceTime with
prescreened applicants. Contact Us (/contact -us)
kn individual or company can sponsor a dog for $250 covering vet medical transfer prep, microchipping,
sterilization, vaccination, rabies, heartworm prevention or treatment, health certification, and
ansportation from to a U.S. Mainland shelter. Corporate sponsors may sponsor one dog or one shipment
er week or month. Sponsors are acknowledged with their company stickers on the kennels they sponsor,
their company logo on our website, and media recognition. Contact Us (/contact -us).
r)C1fVATINC, EY"A I DIT F'
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