The Hawaiian Humane Society would be required to offer approved "no-kill" or rescue shelters, and give citizens a chance to take in any animal at least five days before it is scheduled to be euthanized, under a proposal to be heard by the City Council’s Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee at 10:30 a.m. today.
Bill 57 appears to be the latest battleground between the Hawaiian Humane Society, which runs animal control operations under a contract with the city, and the no-kill shelters and other advocates objecting to the killing of animals at the Humane Society’s facility in Moiliili.
The bill, introduced by Councilman Tom Berg, requires the Hawaiian Humane Society or any future city animal control contractor to not destroy any animal before first informing, by telephone and email, organizations on a registry willing to accept animals for adoption.
The public would also be required to be notified through the contractor’s website and a notice on the animal’s cage or kennel.
The contractor would then need to wait at least five business days before destroying the animal and would be allowed to do so only if no organization or person came forward to adopt or rescue it, the bill states.
The bill provides an exception for "all irremediably suffering animals" and dangerous dogs. In those exceptions the animals would be "humanely destroyed without delay."
Jacque LeBlanc, the Hawaiian Humane Society’s community relations director, described the bill as "well intended but misinformed." Requiring the contractor to hold animals could result in the euthanization of more animals, she said, adding that the measure is based on "template legislation" that might work in some places elsewhere but may not be suitable here.
"It could force animal shelters to pair the sick with the healthy and create a stressful environment with overcrowding," LeBlanc said.
The Humane Society is "at the point where we guarantee every healthy, adoptable pet a home," she said. "We keep them as long as it takes. We foster for space, not euthanize."
Meanwhile, some no-kill advocates have already submitted testimony in support of the bill, while others say it doesn’t go far enough.
Mililani veterinarian Jill Voeks said the bill will hold animal control organizations more accountable.
Cathy Goeggel, president of Animal Rights Hawaii, said the Humane Society has "a dismal adoption record." In written testimony, Goeggel said no-kill shelters are in their infancy and have limited resources. She urged the Council to provide "sufficient funds … to ensure the survival of the animals."
