Question: Can I report animal abuse without giving my name? I went on the Humane Society website, and there’s a form but it asks for your name, address, phone number, etc.
Answer: Yes. The Hawaiian Humane Society will investigate anonymous reports of cruelty to animals; call 356-2250, said Allison Gammel, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization.
The society’s Citizen Complaint Form (808ne.ws/ccf), which you found online, covers not only animal cruelty, but also reports of barking dogs, crowing chickens and other nuisances for which the complainant must be identified if the matter goes to court. People may use the form to report animal cruelty but are not limited to it. So you can call in or submit your tip online without identifying yourself; do provide as many facts about the alleged crime as possible, however.
You also can anonymously report to Animal CrimeStoppers, a division of CrimeStoppers Honolulu, by calling 955-8300, dialing *CRIME on your cellphone or submitting a tip online at 808ne.ws/crime.
“Animals cannot speak for themselves, so CrimeStoppers asks the public to be their voice and report anonymous tips on animal cruelty. Academic studies going back three decades show a clear link between cruelty to animals in childhood and violence against humans in adulthood. Other studies show that an abused pet — which may be noticed by a perceptive neighbor or a veterinary professional — often indicates hidden abuse of a spouse or a child taking place within the walls of the same home,” according to the nonprofit organization’s website. CrimeStoppers pays a cash reward of up to $1,000 for a tip leading to an arrest, identity of a suspect or recovery of property.
You didn’t say what abuse you witnessed, but there has been a case in the news. As of deadline Friday the Hawaiian Humane Society was offering a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest of a male who appeared to throw a cat off a ledge; video of the alleged act was posted on social media. Anyone with information is urged to call the Humane Society. Depending on the facts of the case, the alleged crime could be a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Q: Auwe! I see mopeds doing risky things — driving on the shoulder, weaving between cars, etc. — more so than bicyclists. Do they keep accident statistics?
A: Yes. For example, of 106 people killed in traffic accidents in Hawaii last year, four were moped operators, according to preliminary data released in January by the state Department of Transportation. The fatalities also included 60 people who were in motor vehicles, 18 motorcyclists, 14 pedestrians, six bicyclists, two people on scooters, one ATV operator and one person on a motorized bicycle.
Mahalo
Mahalo to a young couple who shared a table with us at Pho & Company in Kapolei on March 2. They discreetly, and without our seeing them, paid for our dinner. They left the restaurant before we realized what they’d done. We will pay it forward. — Grateful diner
Mahalo
Mahalo to a kind and honest person. The Friday before Presidents Day, I visited the federal and state tax offices. On Saturday I discovered my checkbook was missing. I filed a stop payment at my bank, and my daughter sent messages to the tax offices. At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, after the holiday, Lisa of the lost-and-found office at the federal building called to say they were holding my checkbook. She called that early because she didn’t want us to have to worry a minute longer than necessary. Mahalo for saving me from a lot of worry, and the time and effort of changing accounts. — Ed J.
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.
