First, I want to say mahalo to the Hawaii Island Humane Society for their years of saving pet animals. However, there are many inconsistencies in their practices that need to be brought to the public’s attention. Many people are spreading rumors about the situation with the Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) and Big Island Dog Rescue (BIDR). Here is what I recommend. Do your own due diligence and fact check. Stay away from emotionally responding without knowing the truth.
First, I want to say mahalo to the Hawaii Island Humane Society for their years of saving pet animals. However, there are many inconsistencies in their practices that need to be brought to the public’s attention. Many people are spreading rumors about the situation with the Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) and Big Island Dog Rescue (BIDR). Here is what I recommend. Do your own due diligence and fact check. Stay away from emotionally responding without knowing the truth.
Here are some facts as I see them:
1. HIHS continued to euthanize thousands of adoptable and treatable dogs and cats while other Hawaii humane societies had already been sending these pet animals to mainland shelters where they were adopted. HIHS ignored that successful program and other proven suggestions for improvement freely offered to them.
2. BIDR started a transfer program early last year and initially had cooperation from HIHS. They were able to get an airline to fly the dogs for free to the Pacific Northwest. They have had 100 percent of the 180 dogs adopted by people who were prescreened by the shelters. HIHS had an excellent cooperative relationship with BIDR in the beginning. For some reason HIHS decided to contact the airlines and complain about the pets flying free. So the airlines discontinued the program making it expensive to fly the dogs.
3. HIHS drafted a contract for the rescue organizations that had unacceptable clauses and if not signed the rescue organizations would not be allowed to adopt dogs from their facilities. A petition was circulated against this action and over 2,200 people signed the petition against the contract. https://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/hawaii-island-humane-society-suspending-adoptions-rescues
4. HIHS contacted the Oregon Humane Society and convinced them to drop BIDR for the transfer program and to use HIHS. HIHS has sent just a few dogs while BIDR had plans for up to 100 dogs to be sent. Thankfully, BIDR has other humane societies they use for the transfer program.
5. HIHS provided false statistics to a Tribune Herald reporter last year when numbers were spun to reflect success or improvement with euthanizing animals when there was none.
6. HIHS also provided false information to Sherry Bracken when interviewed on the radio program Island Issues. In fact, when asked to attend the interview where BIDR, KARES and HIHS were scheduled together, they refused. She then scheduled them separately. Listen to the interview here and form your own conclusions: https://www.lava1053.com/episode/hawaii-island-humane-society/.
7. They have been a no show when opportunities arise to meet with other rescue organizations to develop a community alliance. In fact, last Friday they declined an invitation to attend a town hall meeting. The meeting was recommended by the County Council. County Council members and other dignitaries attended the meeting to work on this topic and related issues. It seems HIHS doesn’t want an open dialogue because they have made many misleading statements. Where is their accountability and their willingness to do the right thing for the animals? Organizations typically strive to improve. It would be great is HIHS had that mindset.
8. Do their bylaws have term limits? I was told the answer is no so the board of directors stay the same although the president has changed. This causes a stagnant situation. What are their plans to improve their current status as one of the worse humane societies for euthanizing adoptable and treatable pets?
9. They routinely ignore or say they can’t do anything when the public reports dog abuse. Hundreds of dogs are currently living in the worse conditions right here. Big Island Facebook pages whose focus is local dog abuse and/or rescue continuously receive complaints from people who don’t know where to turn when they witness dog abuse. HIHS and our local police departments hide behind antiquated laws to explain their lack of enforcement but there are laws they can enforce. When a call is put into the humane society they often provide set reasons for why they can’t help when questioned about what they will do about an abuse situation. On the positive side, there are times when they respond and we appreciate every animal they have helped.
What can you do? Check with the County Council to find out when these issues are on their agenda. The public is invited to attend and give testimony. Ask for the humane society statistics about their kill rate and then fact check that, too. The HIHS statistics can be obtained through the Police Chief’s Office. Compare them to the average national statistics. Be a voice in support of change. Become active in the fight against animal abuse. Volunteer. Don’t blindly believe everything you read or hear. Call the HIHS board members and executive director and ask them to convert to an open no kill shelter. Currently, they are an open shelter. Stand up for what is right!
HIHS if you are reading this letter I am angry about this situation. But I have a huge forgiving heart. Please step up and admit your wrongs and work on making things right with the community and its other animal rescue organizations.
Ilene Harrington is a resident of Kailua-Kona
My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not of West Hawaii Today