Court grants agency
checks on 14 pet dogs
A circuit judge has ordered that the Hawaiian Humane Society be allowed to immediately inspect the 14 dogs that had been released to Lucy Kagan, who had been accused of animal cruelty in May.
Despite objections by Kagan's attorney, Circuit Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo ordered the inspections at a court hearing yesterday. The humane society alleged Friday that Kagan had failed to adhere to an agreement to allow inspectors to see the animals.
Hifo also ordered that a veterinarian chosen by the humane society accompany the inspection team to four unidentified sites where the dogs are being held temporarily.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Lucy Kagan was ordered by a circuit judge yesterday to let the Hawaiian Humane Society inspect 14 dogs released to her care.
The humane society seized 27 dogs and two cats from Kagan's Hawaii Kai townhouse on May 7 after the animals were discovered by firefighters who were responding to a kitchen fire. Fire officials said the animals were living in close quarters with trash, feces and roaches.
On July 29 the humane society released 14 dogs to Kagan, including three puppies that were born since May. Some of the remaining animals have been retrieved by their original owners, and one dog died while with the humane society.
The humane society went to court Friday seeking a temporary restraining order against Kagan that required her to provide detailed information about the whereabouts of the 14 dogs returned to her.
Kagan apparently had failed to live up to an earlier agreement allowing the agency to inspect the Waimanalo home where she said she planned on keeping the animals. When inspectors went to the home, the dogs were not there.
Kagan told the judge Friday that 10 of the dogs have been sold and four others are being cared for by others.
Her attorney, Scott Strack, objected to the humane society's request, saying it had no legal basis to snatch the dogs back. He could not be reached following yesterday's hearing.
Hifo ordered that weekly inspections at the four sites be scheduled by the humane society, at no more than three times a week.
Kagan will be required to appear in court on Aug. 22 for a compliance hearing.
The humane society is still seeking criminal charges of animal cruelty against Kagan.
