Humane society conflict clarification:
Humane society conflict clarification:
HIHS has euthanized 10,000 annually for 10 years. Our community animals needed a voice, Big Island Dog Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit offered HIHS a comprehensive 18-month plan relying on statistical analysis, and experience from similar shelters, to save the 4,020 adoptable and treatable cats and dogs HIHS euthanizes each year, emphasizing education, sterilization, and transferring animals to 98 percent live release mainland shelters. HIHS refused.
HIHS staff is great, given the choice would help pets to go to homes rather than euthanize them. The conflict: March, 2015, HIHS board and director were presented the opportunity to home every adoptable dog. HIHS refused, opting instead to euthanize the wanted pets.
The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated, and I am tired of being judged for euthanasia statistics HIHS hides, and refuses to change. We cannot, as a community, continue to shoulder the entire blame for HIHS’s hidden euthanasia of, what it took us three months to learn was 4,020 wanted pets annually. HIHS is contracted to control animal population, they say it is under control, when we learn it is not, we must act. HIHS has one hand out using tax money to euthanize, hides or whitewashes statistics, then points the other finger blaming the community.
Taxpayers’ concern is “why” HIHS’s $2 million tax funded contract (RFP 2940) incentivizes and compensates HIHS for euthanasia. Contrarily HIHS takes about $250 loss per adoption.
The $1.3 million carryover HIHS still fails to decrease euthanasia, no significant increase in spay and neuter, or educating the community. Obviously, donations to HIHS only perpetuate euthanasia.
With $1.3 million in the bank, no adoptable or treatable animal should die! Please contact your county council rep.
We are working with the County Council to invite HIHS to a open forum to incentivize adoptions, form an oversight committee, and standardize pet evaluations. If we work together, we make our humane society a model for the nation, and one we can be proud of.
Tasi Autele, Big Island Dog Rescue
Kailua-Kona