Question: On July 4 you posted an article regarding animal nuisance. The last sentence only indicated that the Hawaiian Humane Society is the investigative branch for dog complaints (808ne.ws/74kline). What about any animal other than dogs? Where I live in Kailua, there are many and an ever-increasing presence of beautiful but loud and annoying peacocks and hens. They crow in concert with each other throughout the day and evenings. Very rarely can I get a night’s sleep without being woken by the loud cries and noises they make. (My job requires being alert and rested.) The situation is worst when in the breeding season, which seems to grow longer each year.
Answer: The Hawaiian Humane Society’s enforcement authority under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 7, Article 2 (808ne.ws/nuisanceroh), is not limited to noisy dogs. So yes, you may ask the nonprofit organization to clamp down on clamorous peafowl, as well, as long as the birds are owned by or being harbored by an identifiable person, who would be the focus of the investigation.
The Humane Society has a contract with the city to enforce noise-nuisance violations under the statute, which covers “an animal, farm animal or poultry engaged in animal nuisance.” However, per Sec. 7-2.4(a), the ordinance does not apply to “animals, farm animals or poultry raised, bred or kept as a commercial enterprise or for food purposes where commercial kennels or the keeping of livestock is a permitted use.”
More vexing than that limitation, to the many other Kokua Line readers who have submitted similar questions, is that the law targets owners of animals on private property. The vast majority of complaints Kokua Line receives are about feral animals of unknown provenance, whether they be crowing chickens, shrieking peafowl or caterwauling felines. Because some of the birds disturbing your peace are on private property, the Humane Society may be able to help.
Allison Gammel, a spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Humane Society, confirmed that the noise-nuisance ordinance applies to peafowl. “Keep in mind that the ordinance applies to owned peafowl. An owner is defined in the ordinance as any person owning, harboring, or keeping animals, whether licensed or not, or having custody, whether temporary or permanent,” she said.
Q: Is there any rule/law against feeding wild or stray birds? This only entices them to private property, where they can be a nuisance.
A: “There is no law that prohibits people from feeding free-roaming peacocks or chickens. However, they may be considered harboring these animals and receive a potential citation in regards to noise-nuisance complaints. The complainant will have to be willing to write a statement and appear in court,” said Gammel.
Q: Does the Humane Society catch feral chickens?
A: No. The nonprofit organization is contracted by the city to investigate and enforce nuisance complaints against animal owners. It does not trap or remove feral chickens.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
