The Hawaii Island Humane Society has been dealing with our dog overpopulation issues for a very long time. I really have a hard time dealing with the “he said,” “she said” style of relaying a story, or the “I heard someone say” and this misinformation is then regurgitated to others in oftentimes, a public forum. This is the problem as I know it is about our dog issues on this island. The root of it.
The Hawaii Island Humane Society has been dealing with our dog overpopulation issues for a very long time. I really have a hard time dealing with the “he said,” “she said” style of relaying a story, or the “I heard someone say” and this misinformation is then regurgitated to others in oftentimes, a public forum. This is the problem as I know it is about our dog issues on this island. The root of it.
First of all, why are we, as the public, not disgusted beyond belief at our community who keeps allowing their dogs to breed? Who ties out their dogs for their entire life? Who can drive past their dog in its dog house and not feed their dog and not see that the dog is starving to death? Why is it okay to keep dumping these dogs on the doorstep of the Humane Society and expect that they should deal with the outcome of the community’s negligence and then also have to take the brunt of venom that is spewed at them because dogs need to be euthanized?
If you have an answer as to what they are supposed to do with the unbelievable amount of animals dumped on their doorstep daily, please, bring it forth and let us know the hidden gem of information that may change it? What are they supposed to do with the very sick dogs, injured dogs and even better — the aggressive dogs that could go forth and hurt someone? Should they bring in animal behaviorists and have them take a year to train one dog back to rehabilitation? What about the other 300 that are aggressive? Who will train those? Where is the space, the kennels, to house these animals during that time period? Are you willing to pay lawsuits out as a community to those that get injured by the dogs that come from HIHS that bit adopters, their children or other pets? What will happen to all the good dogs that don’t bite, that are available and anxiously awaiting a home if the kennels are full of the ones waiting for rehabilitation?
I don’t know of any rescue organization here that is willing and capable to take on these aggressive dogs. Not one. Many other shelters have “no pitbull” clauses and won’t take them, even if they are angels. So where should those dogs stack up? Because there isn’t any organization here that can take in as many as come through the doors of the HIHS. The HIHS is an open-door facility. It turns away no animals, luckily for the community. Not the same as us rescues. When we are full, we are full.
Let’s get to the root of the problem and educate our youngsters in our schools on what good pet ownership is all about. Helping the problem would also include not purchasing dogs or puppies from anything but a rescue or shelter. That helps tremendously. Certainly, don’t buy on craigslist, on the side of the road or pet shops.
Let’s spay and neuter pets and while doing so educate those that we meet with aloha while doing this.
Let’s get together and change our laws so that the Hawaii Police Department and HIHS can actually do something to animal abusers.
Let’s adopt out all the good dogs as much as we can and stop laying the blame of the crisis at the feet of the people who are left to clean up our messes.
Why don’t you go to the shelter, shake the employees hands that are there doing a job to support their families? A job that most of us couldn’t or wouldn’t do. It is emotionally exhausting for them and they deserve to be helped not attacked.
Daylynn Kyles is president of Aloha Ilio Rescue LLC based in Hilo.
My Turn articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.