Council lets dogs walk path on Kauai
Two members object out of concerns over liability and upkeep
LIHUE » The Kauai County Council passed a bill Wednesday to allow dogs on a multiuse coastal path in Kapaa.
The new law, which took months to craft and was marked by extensive testimony both for and against, will allow dog owners to walk their dogs along a certain mile-long section of the path for a period of 18 months, provided they meet certain conditions.
The federally funded path, which is expected to run from Kapaa to Lihue, is finished in sections near Kapaa. One of those sections will allow dogs, while the rest of the path will not.
It is something dog owners have been fighting for since last year, when dogs were outlawed on the path. The path, however, was put on top of a cane haul road that had been used for decades for dog walking, jogging, fishing, biking and other uses.
"We're thrilled we're back on the path," said Dr. Becky Rhoades, director of the Kauai Humane Society. "I'm very confident we can show the community we can be responsible."
Dog owners who want to walk along the coastal path will have to have their dog licensed, have a dog waste bag visible and keep their dogs on a 6-foot leash at all times.
The new law will take effect Dec. 1.
Two councilmembers, Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho and Mel Rapozo, voted against the bill, citing liability and maintenance concerns.
Both worried that the county might be liable if someone is hurt on the path because of a dog.
But Tim Bynum, who sponsored the law, said the county has never been sued in relation to a dog-bite case.
"We're not talking about launching the space shuttle," he added. "People were walking their dogs in the area for years."
Carvalho disagreed.
"We are launching a space shuttle," she said. "This is something new. This is a divisive issue."
Many in the county administration and the workers who clean the path complained that the dog waste would be a problem, Carvalho added.
The Parks and Recreation Department already has problems, and this will exacerbate the situation, Rapozo added.
"Sometimes it's easier to launch a space shuttle (than) to purchase a lawn mower" on Kauai, Rapozo added.
The Council also passed bills yesterday to stiffen fines for dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs and to create new county dog parks.