Starting today, Honolulu police will answer all barking-dog and other animal nuisance complaints on Oahu, and issue citations if necessary. Police begin answering
barking-dog complaintsAn officer will be sent to the scene
if a caller agrees to meet himBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comAll it takes is a call to 911.
But an officer will be sent to the scene only if the caller agrees to meet with him to identify the offending animal or animals, said Assistant Police Chief Paul Putzulu.
The 911 operators "will ask if any criminal activity is causing the dog to bark. If there is no criminal activity, they will ask the complainant to meet the officer," he said.
If no one is home or if the animal's owner cannot be located, the officer will leave a Notice of Animal Nuisance Complaint informing the owner of the city's animal nuisance law and penalties for violations.
The notice will include the officer's name, badge number and telephone number.
In addition to barking dogs, police will respond to crowing roosters, dog bites and complaints of animals exceeding the number allowed per household, Putzulu said.
City ordinance allows no more than two chickens per household and up to 10 dogs 4 months or older.
The Hawaiian Humane Society had been responsible for enforcing the animal nuisance law under contract with the city.
But its failure to obtain an $80,000 funding increase forced the organization to concentrate on its animal welfare programs.
The humane society will continue to enforce the animal cruelty and neglect laws, stray-dog laws, animal abatement, everything related to the cat protection law, unlicensed animals and the dangerous-dog law.