Question: We have a lot of United Airlines miles that are going to expire at the end of the month. Is there any place that we can donate them where there won’t be a fee assessed?
Answer: United’s MileagePlus loyalty program allows members to donate miles to a variety of charities through its Charity Miles program, which you can access online at 808ne.ws/uamiles.
There is no fee for the donor, according to the United Airlines’ representative to whom we spoke on Tuesday. There’s a 500-mile minimum per donation. Miles donated through this program are not tax deductible, according to the United Airlines website.
Potential recipients of your unused miles include a host of widely known charitable organizations, such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Rotary International and many others.
Q: Does every dog bite have to be reported to the police? My dog got into a little trouble (provoked) and the other dog’s owner got nipped trying to break it up. It was over very quickly and the other owner was barely scratched. I don’t know how she could even be sure that it was my dog that caused the (minor) injury; it could have been her own dog, in the scuffle. But she said she was going to the doctor and the doctor would have to report it to the police.
A: No. Honolulu does have a law requiring that health care providers report to police all dog bites causing “serious bodily injury,” but by your description it doesn’t seem likely that this incident would rise to that standard.
Section 7-7.8 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, regarding mandatory reporting of dog bites, defines “serious bodily injury” as a physical injury involving “a broken bone, a concussion, a laceration that extends down to the level of muscle or bone, or a tearing or rupture of an organ.” Fortunately, none of that seems to have occurred.
In cases where mandatory reporting is required, the call to police shall be made by “any licensed, registered, or certified medical service provider, regarding their treatment of a person,” or “any veterinarian, regarding their treatment of an animal,” according to the ordinance. Of course, the injured dog owner could choose to report the incident on her own.
You mentioned that your dog was provoked. The rules on mandatory reporting fall Under Chapter 7, Article 7 of the ROH, “Regulation of Dangerous Dogs.” The city reserves that label (dangerous) for canines that commit unprovoked attacks. Read the city ordinance at 808ne.ws/2dv6Qew for details about the numerous circumstances that count as provocation.
In addition, state law protects a dog owner from civil liability if the victim provoked the dog to bite by teasing, tormenting or otherwise abusing the animal. See Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 663-9.1, at 808ne.ws/2jAasQ8
Mahalo
Just prior to Christmas, I was very busy with a lot of activities, and I got careless. I unknowingly dropped my wallet in the parking lot where I had shopped. Although I retraced my steps in an attempt to find my wallet, I was unsuccessful in finding it. I began to call the various charge-card companies to cancel my charge accounts.
Lo and behold, an angel appeared at my front door. She had found my wallet and returned it with everything intact. I failed to get this angel’s name, however, when she reads this note, she will know that I am speaking about her. The aloha spirit is alive and well as exhibited by the actions of this blessed angel.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! May the good Lord bless you abundantly for your kind and thoughtful deed. — A grateful senior citizen
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.
