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Call police to report
illegal feeding of cats

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Question: There is a lady who feeds stray cats at Kamiloiki Park between 6 and 6:15 every morning, even though there is a sign that says "do not feed animals" in the park. The cat population has increased; there are now about eight cats. When I called the city to file a complaint, they said to call police, but I don't want to waste their time. What can be done to inform this lady to not feed the cats? The cats are going into people's yards and becoming a nuisance. We're tired of this.

Answer: If the woman persists in ignoring the sign, the only way to try to stop her is to call police, according to city and state officials.

The Department of Parks and Recreation asks people to call 911 in situations like this because it does not have any enforcement powers, said city spokeswoman Carol Costa. "The area is signed, so HPD can go in if called."

The Honolulu Police Department sent an officer to the area, but he did not see anyone feeding cats, said spokeswoman Michelle Yu. Officers will continue to check the area, she said.

Section 10-1.2(a)(10) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu prohibits the feeding of any animal or bird in city parks when signs are posted prohibiting such feeding. A citation could result in a maximum fine of $500, 30 days in jail or both.

The state Department of Health's Vector Control Branch also has no authority to stop the woman from feeding the cats.

Several years ago, health officials tried to get a law passed to ban feeding cats in public places because of the resulting feces and odor problems. However, that attempt failed because of opposition by cat lovers, said Dr. Roy Furumizo, an entomologist with Vector Control.

His office is concerned because uncontrolled populations of feral cats cause sanitation problems. No one picks up after the cats, and later on, there's the problem of flies breeding in their feces, he said.

On top of that, the odor from the urine and feces is terrible, he said.

"We try to discourage people from feeding (the cats). ... It's an ongoing battle we have," he said, adding it's the same problem with people feeding wild birds.

Furumizo said there are some responsible groups that are capturing feral cats and having them spayed and neutered.

"But as far as stopping people from feeding cats, there's no way we can do that," he said. "It's a police matter."

Mahalo

To the kind gentleman in the white van who picked me up on Mott-Smith Drive on Tuesday, Sept. 14, around 4:15 p.m. I had frantically flagged him down and asked for a ride home to tend to a possible emergency (I thought I'd left my stove on).

He was on his newspaper delivery route but graciously told me to hop in and drove me straight to my apartment building near Prospect Street.

I was in such a panic I forgot his name, but I remember he told me he was a pastor.

Luckily, my prayers were answered and my stove was turned off. I hope to see him again on my daily jog so I can thank him properly. -- Jane Whitley

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