Question: Are there any state and/or city laws against private citizens (not authorized contractors) harassing or killing feral animals?
Answer: Yes. Hawaii’s animal cruelty statutes apply to free-roaming cats, chickens, pigs and other animals, confirmed Harold Han, director of operations for the Hawaiian Humane Society and a former officer with the Honolulu Police Department. Han oversees the animal welfare organization’s rescues, investigations and other matters.
Among potentially applicable statutes are Hawaii Revised Statutes 711-1108.5, first-degree cruelty to animals, which is a felony, and HRS 711-1109, second-degree cruelty to animals, which is a misdemeanor that rises to a felony if the offense involves 10 or more animals, Han said. The animals don’t have to be owned pets for there to be a case, he said.
In your email to Kokua Line, you described a man who seems determined to rid your Waialae neighborhood of feral chickens, which live in a nearby cemetery but forage across several blocks near Hunakai Street. You said multiple observers have seen the man carrying a big stick, “chasing the chickens all over the place, frightening them nearly to death. I don’t know if he has killed one yet. … I really want to stop the torture.”
Han said there may be an animal cruelty case if there’s evidence that the chickens were harmed and that the man is the one who harmed them. You can make a citizen complaint by calling the Humane Society at 356-2250 or filling out and submitting a form online, at 808ne.ws/ancrform.
The Humane Society says it investigates all tips it receives about potential animal cruelty and abuse, balancing education of and enforcement against accused offenders, depending on what’s best for the animals involved.
The organization also does public outreach, including at special events focused on particular aspects of the problem. There’s a workshop this week about feral cats, for example. “Fending for Felines: Preventing Animal Abandonment and Abuse,” is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pearl City High School’s cafeteria, 2100 Hookiekie St. The public is welcome to “learn how to report animal cruelty and abandonment of free-roaming cats and report harassment of colony caregivers,” according to the invitation.
A leader of the group CatFriends is scheduled to speak about that organization’s success prosecuting abandonment at Heeia State Park, and a police representative is to be on hand to answer questions about harassment of people who take care of the cats and how to report animal cruelty and abandonment. There also will be door prizes, including humane cat traps, cat food and other items needed by cat colony caregivers, many of whom pay out of their own pockets to feed and sterilize cats. For more information, email events@hawaiianhumane.org.
Q: How are feral cats marked?
A: Those that have been sterilized have a notched ear. Male cats are notched on the left ear and females on the right, according to the Humane Society.
Mahalo
I would like to send a huge mahalo to the police officer who went out of his way to find my telephone number and alert me that my small green purse was turned in to him at the Chinatown Substation on April 7. Additionally, Officer S. Miller and partner came to my condo to leave a note that my purse was found and where to call. I am very impressed with our Honolulu Police Department. Unfortunately, I neglected to find out the name of the officer at the Chinatown substation. He was most helpful. Gratitude also to the person who turned in my purse, complete with important cards. — Aloha, Marjorie
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.
