More aloha needed for island’s animals
The important election for mayor is coming up.
We who care, and there are many of us, would like a public response from Mayor Mitch Roth and candidate for mayor Kimo Alameda on their plans, if elected, to alleviate the terrible plight of homeless, abused and abandoned dogs and cats on our island.
Animals are being dumped everywhere, including in the Ka‘u Desert, at the transfer stations, on the streets; they are being thrown from cars onto the highway, left in sacks and boxes in parking lots.
Animals dead from starvation are being found in people’s yards. We see skeletal, terrified animals running along the highways.
People stand on the roadside trying to give away litters of puppies and kittens — you’ve seen them. (Possibly worse are the ones animals.) Dead dogs and cats are on the side of the road or in the roads. All of this in spite of the many good (and exhausted) people who step up and rescue and do TNR (trap–neuter–return), keep sanctuaries at their own expense, etc.
Not only this, but the animal cruelty on this island is at an all-time high and is unconscionable —we need to educate our children on compassion for animals in our schools, and we need to enforce animal cruelty laws to the max and increase penalties for cruelty.
Mayor Roth, Dr. Alameda: We need TNR funding, strict laws against animal cruelty, education about spay and neuter. We need many more free neuter clinics, we need TNR colony protection, and we need sanctuaries. We need more, but these are the basics. Our island is way behind in its thinking on animal protection.
Mayor candidates Roth and Alameda: Please respond publicly what you plan to do if elected, and Mayor Roth, please tell us what you have done for our animals.
We voters will be waiting to see your reply here.
Patricia Johnson
Volcano
‘Laws do not prevent killing’
A gun is designed to kill. That’s its sole purpose.
And, yes, we can enact a law banning guns in bars, parks and other public gathering places including schools, but that won’t stop an individual who brings a gun with the intention to kill. Such a person will totally ignore such a law, which renders that law as meaningless.
Laws do not prevent killing. Those who decide to kill, will kill. And if there’s no gun available for immediate defense, the killing will continue.
This means guns will also be used as protection to kill those who kill.
The problem is people, not guns.
Lloyd Fukuki
Waimea