Honolulu police worry about how much time and effort they will spend responding to barking dog complaints. Noisy dog gripes
will go to policeThe Humane Society fails to get
city funds to handle these callsBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comAssistant Police Chief Paul Putzulu said that when police take over the enforcement role from the Hawaiian Humane Society on Aug. 15, he hopes it will not affect police response to other calls.
"It's the follow-up that's really going to take a lot of time," he said yesterday.
The Humane Society will no longer enforce the animal nuisance ordinance because it failed to get an $80,000 funding increase from the City Council.
"The Humane Society needs to use its donations for our animal welfare programs," said spokeswoman Eve Holt, "not to underwrite the city's law enforcement and public safety functions."
The Hawaii Island Humane Society in Kona and Hilo already refers all animal noise violations to the police. The Maui Humane Society will handle dog calls, but not complaints about roosters or cats.
A new ordinance is being drafted in Kauai to deal with increasing dog problems, but it will not cover roosters.
The Hawaiian Humane Society will continue to enforce the animal cruelty and neglect laws, stray dog laws, animal abandonment, everything related to the cat protection law, unlicensed animals and the dangerous-dog law, Holt said.
Last month, HPD responded to about 80 animal nuisance complaints. Few if any resulted in citations, Putzulu said.
"Right now our policy is, we will respond. If there is a violation, we will document it on report. We also have the opportunity or the option to issue a citation if necessary," Putzulu said.
According to the city's revised ordinances, an animal is a nuisance if it disturbs anyone by making noise continuously and/or incessantly for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes. Penalties for owners range from a $50 fine for the first offense to up to a $1,000 fine, 30 days in jail or both for a third offense within two years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report