The Hawaiian Humane Society sent out a disturbing alert earlier this week (I apologize for being late in passing this on to you).

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing a new set of rules that will, among many other things, allow it to kill dogs, cats, and other animals found off leash in small boat harbors and other land under DLNR control. It will authorize substantial fines against those who follow recognized best practices by controlling feral cat populations through trap-neuter-release management. And apparently DLNR intends to do this by spreading poison in harbors and other department facilities.

You can help by emailing testimony in opposition to the new rules, as described below. Testimony is due by July 29th.

These will directly effect you if you’re a boater, if you happen to live or spend time near small boat harbors or other DLNR facilities, or if you are simply a concerned animal lover.

Although the Humane Society alert focuses on cats, the rules allow off-leash dogs, cats, and other pets to be “seized” and “disposed of” without recourse by pet owners.

The section that applies to all small boat harbors appears to provide that pets can be seized and killed if they are picked up as strays.

Although the presentation of the rules is so inadequate that it is very difficult for any normal person to figure out what is actually being proposed and what its impact will be. So pay attention here:

In 2016 the Department of Land and Natural Resources asked the Hawaii Legislature to give it the power to kill any animal predators at large on its property, including owned cats. Our advocates and others stopped that effort.

Now DLNR is trying to accomplish the same thing at its small boat harbors through administrative rule making. We need your voice to join ours in saying “No!”

The Hawaiian Humane Society supports the humane treatment of ALL animals. Small boat harbors are essentially industrial space. There are more compassionate and responsible options for managing animals in such an environment.

Public hearings on the rule proposal will take place on each island beginning July 24.

TESTIFY

Submit written testimony by email to dlnr.harreview@hawaii.gov by July 29. Please include “Title 13-232 HAR” in the subject line.

Suggested testimony:

Your name testifying in opposition to the proposed changes to HAR 13-232.

These rules punish animals for what is essentially a human-caused problem.

· They propose starving free-roaming cats, which is a cruel and ineffective way to manage this population of animals.
· They threaten to fine people who trap and sterilize free-roaming cats with the goal of reducing the population.
· They threaten to destroy pet animals even if there is no threat to public safety and without any recourse for pet owners.

I urge you to oppose these changes.

Thank you for your consideration,

Your name

JOIN US

Find the complete hearing schedule and the proposed rule change at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/draft-rules/

And please join us at the Oahu hearing July 29 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Aiea Elementary School Cafeteria. The overwhelming crowd of people who took the time to oppose this effort in person at the Legislature were critical to our success in 2016. I look forward to seeing you.

Mahalo for your support,

Steph

Steph Kendrick | Public Policy Advocate
Hawaiian Humane Society
808.356.2217
HawaiianHumane.org