As I sit and read all the articles in the West Hawaii Today about the contention between the Hawaii Island Humane Society and other nonprofit animal rescue/adoption agencies on both sides of our island, the context of the articles just rankles my very soul. All nonprofit agencies on the Big Island have, at heart, animal welfare at their core. That is why they are all in business — for the animals. I truly believe that. Having said that, however, the “notion” that HIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1963 in Hilo, can call its board together and format a policy to arbitrarily exclude these other agencies from adopting or foster from HIHS unless those agencies sign a release from HIHS seems ludicrous. Is HIHS seriously trying to inhibit the ability to care for animals other than its own?
As I sit and read all the articles in the West Hawaii Today about the contention between the Hawaii Island Humane Society and other nonprofit animal rescue/adoption agencies on both sides of our island, the context of the articles just rankles my very soul. All nonprofit agencies on the Big Island have, at heart, animal welfare at their core. That is why they are all in business — for the animals. I truly believe that. Having said that, however, the “notion” that HIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1963 in Hilo, can call its board together and format a policy to arbitrarily exclude these other agencies from adopting or foster from HIHS unless those agencies sign a release from HIHS seems ludicrous. Is HIHS seriously trying to inhibit the ability to care for animals other than its own?
Does it have to do with the funding and large contributions given to HIHS from a multitude of donors that makes that one agency want to look exemplary in the eyes of the public? Could be … Work together, collaborate, be positive, transparent agencies and don’t put up road blocks because it is the animals that suffer in the end. Is that really so hard to do? Think kokua.
The real responsibility lies in the hands of the animal owner. We have so many people who do not spay/neuter their pets. They do not provide heartworm medication nor provide up-to-date vaccinations against diseases. So many owners especially treat dogs just horribly by chaining them up, giving them so little food that their ribs stick out and only provide “exercise” for hunting while the dog just languishes day after day after day. Then the way it goes, the dog is dumped off at night drops because the animal “would not hunt” or “I am moving back to the mainland and cannot take this animal with me because it cost too much, or it is too old to feed anymore.” How inane is this thinking? The same is true for the “dog next door,” tied up to a doghouse with no exercise, toys or attention given except to provide water and some food. What a joyful life for the “family” dog. It is the same with cats — be a responsible owner by spaying or neutering. Perhaps the feral cat population would not be so out of control if the animal owner had been responsible in the first place.
I am personally a lifelong dog owner. All of my animals past and present were/are treated with love and respect. They are not commodities but actually members of our ohana. And the unconditional love they provide back is worth more than I can say.
I would encourage everyone noted above to think long and hard about what I had to say. Perhaps we need to share the same aloha to our “fur” friends as we do our human ones.
Barbara Hussey is a resident of Kailua-Kona.
Viewpoint articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.