Dog owners need to understand breeds

The tragedy on the Big Island, where an 18-month-old boy was killed by a pit bull, points up the need for people to understand not only how their pet is behaving but also its breed. Pit bulls were bred for a specific purpose; somewhere in each dog's brain is that genetic marker for which he was originally bred.

Pit bulls have a reputation for not tolerating other animals. Our dogs, regardless of breed, are animals. The owner of any dog that was bred for fighting or guarding must be especially careful about how he or she houses and maintains the animal. It is the owner's responsibility to make sure the dog does not harm any living creature.

For those who feel that all dogs are gentle and that it's only how they're treated that makes them mean: wrong. Check out any pure bred animal to find its inherited tendencies, and what it will be like as an adult. Is it a guard dog or a lap dog? Anyone should be able to have any type of dog that they want if they understand the dangers of certain breeds.

Unfortunately, that "responsibility clause" seems to have been forgotten by some in the animal care and education business. Some humane societies say their method of animal control is to educate the community. But more action is needed. People should be safe walking in their neighborhoods, but they are not. No citations were given in West Hawaii during the first quarter of this year even though we have had attacks in which women were badly bitten by large mixed breed dogs. Drastic measures need to be taken now to protect the community.

Ginger Towle
President
West Hawaii Humane Society

Banning certain breeds won't stop bites

In light of the tragic death of the little boy who was attacked by a pit bull on the Big Island, it is not surprising that some people such as Jennifer Hartl-Davis (Star-Bulletin Letters, June 13) want to ban pit bulls.

However, available information indicates that a law prohibiting certain breeds will not have the desired effect. The American Veterinary Medical Association's Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions just published its report in the June 1 issue of the AVMA Journal. Included in the report is the following:

"An often-asked question is what breed or breeds are most dangerous...Although this is a common concern, singling out one or two breeds can result in a false sense of accomplishment. Doing so ignores the true scope of the problem and will not result in a responsible approach to protecting a community's citizens."

"Following a severe attack, there is usually an outcry to do something, and the something often reflects a knee-jerk response. Only later do officials realize that the response was not effective..."

The task force's report also points out that while breed is not an accurate indicator of whether a dog will bite, sex difference is with "intact" male dogs involved in 70 to 76 percent of reported dog bites.

As a community, we must realize that most of our dogs are loving, well-behaved members of our families. When any dog is not responsibly cared for, it has the potential to be dangerous. We urge community leaders to be considerate when looking at the best way to protect people and animals in Hawaii.

Grayson Hashida, Pamela Burns, Rebecca Rhoades and Keith Pocock
Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island Humane Societies

OHA board members aren't worthy of valley

I'm reading and hearing too much about all the disunity of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board. I really don't want this troubling dark spirit brought into the sacred Waimea Valley. Perhaps as a place better suited for the OHA board members, they should purchase their own battleground, such as Kahoolawe or Makua.

Their mana'o 'ino (ill-willed) spirits will do nothing to restore what many here are praying and hoping for: peace, unity and genuine aloha.

Ron Valenciana

Military needs training to protect freedom

The people of the Waianae Coast community have had enough of the calls to stop the bombing and shooting in Makua Valley. Opponents of the military's use of the valley are saying "give us back our land." That land never did belong to this group of activists.

Our armed forces must train to be ready to meet the enemy at any time. Training is part of our country's readiness to protect you and me and every citizen. You send your children to school so they can be prepared to face the challenges of adult life. Is this not essential training? We also teach our children about our country's freedom, and that freedom is never free.

The Army has heard the concerns about Makua Valley and has made provisions to protect areas of interest. Let concerned citizens on both sides monitor its progress.

I love my Hawaiian culture not only because I am part-Hawaiian, but because I was educated to respect it. My ohana lived in Makua long before I was born in 1937. My father was a ranch foreman for Link McCandles. He too would have said that without training you will never be ready. I'm a veteran and will not turn my back on my country. Let's stand up and be counted.

Adrian Silva Jr.

Liberty House touched our lives and hearts

Corky hit my funny bone again with his image beside your June 21 aloha editorial to both Macy's and Liberty House. If Corky had looked outside Liberty House, he would have found husbands like me waiting patiently and guarding a growing number of Liberty House packages, especially during sales. As a creature of habit I always look for Corky's "thousand word" impressions of what's in the news.

Liberty House was important to our family because, more than 30 years ago, our 4-year-old son Mark read signs in a game we played as we drove along the freeway, including signs on Liberty House trucks. When he began kindergarten, he recited his Pledge of Allegiance, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...with Liberty House and justice for all."

Perhaps Macy's will consider keeping the hibiscus logo with Macy's-Liberty House Hawaii for loyal local consumers.

Ted Nishijo

[Quotables] "We don't mind if people touch the plants, but we don't want them to be walking away with anything." Heidi Lennstrom, Paleoethnobotanist and project manager of the native Hawaiian plant garden at Bishop Museum. Visitors are encouraged to touch the plants, she says, but not pick the fruit or dig up the vegetables. "My sister and her son are dead. They didn't just disappear." Patricia Moriarty, California resident who, on the advice of a psychic, plans a trip to Hawaii this summer seeking more information about the disappearance of her sister and nephew 24 years ago from a Hauula bus stop.

Sports teaches lifelong values

From the attention surrounding the Interscholastic League of Honolulu football program, we have learned one thing that pervades all else: sports matter. I support the current ILH decision. These people had a hard decision to make and they did what they felt was best.

I want to talk about this issue from a slightly different viewpoint. Football is about being part of a team, learning to listen, giving up ego, understanding the value of practicing, submitting your individual desires to the good of the team, reaching beyond yourself to your inner spiritual reserves, never giving up, cheering from the bench, congratulating the winner when it wasn't you, and, in the end, becoming someone better than you ever thought you could be.

Re-read that paragraph and ask these questions: How do I succeed in life...or become a great businessman... or be a good family person? I think the things you learn from a sports program look awfully similar to the answers to these questions.

Cal Lee
Athletic Director
Saint Louis School

Two-tiered play offers some advantages

The split of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu into two divisions creates an opportunity to make a win-win situation for everybody.

The ILH has limited the number of players who can dress for a game. Since some schools have had more than 100 players, some of them may never dress for a game or only for some games. Coach Cal Lee of St. Louis recommended that St. Louis, Kamehameha and Punahou field two teams and play the second teams against Damien, Pac-Five and Iolani. This was rejected by the league. The new alignment and player limit now makes Lee's recommendation more feasible.

For the games against Damien, Pac-Five and Iolani, the other division schools (St. Louis, Kamehameha and Punahou) would dress the younger players who are not regular starters. This would be voluntary by the coaches, but I'm sure all would comply. This way everyone can win. The smaller teams won't get beaten up, all the players get to play and the regular starters get a bye week.

Jim Hettig

Drugs and drinking don't spur hatred

Vanessa Birang's argument (Star-Bulletin Letters, June 18) that alcohol and drugs were the cause of gay hatred and attempts to kill are only attempts to shift the blame.

Chemicals of any kind cannot create specific ideas of hatred. They may release inhibitions of previously learned attitudes.

These attitudes could only have been implanted by other humans. Christian churches, radio programs like "Focus on the Family" and teachers who allow taunting of gay students are some of those human sources in Hawaii. The aloha spirit seems to have a dark side.

Frederick Wells

More students are speaking Hawaiian

The June 22 story about fewer students taking Hawaiian requires clarification. The number of students in immersion schools went down slightly. When the growing number of students in Hawaiian Charter schools are included, more students are taking Hawaiian.

Another factor is the quality and preparation of immersion students. More students were accepted into private schools and prestigious universities. Anuenue school's full-term, six year accreditation documents the program's quality.

The Hawaiian Language Immersion Program is not for everyone, but it has its legal foundation in the state Constitution with Hawaiian being an official language.

Charles V. Naumu
Principal
Kula Kaiapuni 'O Anuenue

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