HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0095.006 2018-2020 P/FG
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CORM.R5
COUNCLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
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ANIMAL rANCTUARY
County of Hawaii Non-Profit Grant Testimony
Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary
4/23/2019
- Kathy Buono, Vice-President, Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary.
- I support the funding allocated for the Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary's
spay/neuter program.
- Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary is located in Kurtistown. It is home to
approximately 370 cats and 65 dogs. We are a "no-kill" or "animals alive"
facility. We find homes for approximately 400 animals a year.
- Requested $32,775 to supplement an $84,900 spay/neuter program.
- $6,750.00 is recommended by the Finance Committee.
- Although not fully funded, we understand the demands for county funding
are great and we appreciate the funding we do receive.
- It will provide 100 cat and 50 dog spay/neuters.
- Rainbow Friends has a successful history of assisting the low-income East
Hawaii residents with free spay and neuter services. Over 10,000 spay/neuters
have been performed since 2007 by Rainbow Friends and a large percentage of
that number has been funded by Hawaii County. Rainbow holds one cat (70
cats) and one dog (40 dogs) spay neuter clinic per month, several mini-clinics
per month and utilizes several local veterinary services. The clinics are always
full and there is always a waiting list.
- Although we have not yet achieved zero unwanted animals on the island, the
number of animals surrendered to the Hawaii Island Humane Society has
significantly decreased (38%) in the last eight years and we believe it is a result
of the spay/neuter programs. But, 6300 animals were still euthanized by HIHS
in 2018. Studies have shown that dog and cat overpopulation is a long-term
problem, and we cannot expect to see significant gains for many more years
but this statistic shows we are making a difference. We need to achieve zero
unwanted dogs and cats as soon as possible. We will continue to offer free
spay/neuter services with whatever funds we can obtain.
Comm. No. "I '
Ref. To: p I F.G
Ref. Date APR 2'2 2019
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- If we do not continue to act, thousands of unwanted dogs and cats will add to
the overpopulation and abandonment problem on this island.
- Low-cost/free, high-quality, high-volume, on-going, spay and neuter
programs play a vital role in reducing the cat and dog overpopulation
problem and in the process can save taxpayers millions of dollars in animal
control costs.
- Numerous spay neuter clinics are held all over the island by HIHS, Hui Pono,
KARES and Rainbow Friends.
- We partner with KARES to schedule and hold clinics. All the groups work
together and recommend each other if we are full and someone has an
immediate need. We appreciate the county funding for these other groups,
as well, since it takes a village, or in our case an island, to address a problem.
- Those most affected are the low-income residents of the island. Cost is the
reason most often cited by owners for not having their pets spayed or
neutered.
- Studies have found it is cheaper to spay and neuter than it is to euthanize. It
is better to prevent a life than to end one.
- This funding will provide a much needed and appreciated service to low-
income Hawaii Island residents.
- Mahalo
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