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Report aggressive
dogs to police

Question: An aggressive dog is running loose at Sunset Beach and along the beach path almost every day. This dog was picked up in September after we called the Hawaiian Humane Society in July, August and September. He is loose again. I reported him again to HHS recently. He still charges at us, growling with teeth bared. HHS tells me now that we have to call police. Is that correct? We'd like to be able to walk on our beach without looking over our shoulder and being charged at. We don't want to wait until one of us is bitten. I hate to have to make a police report, but can anything be done?

Answer: Because the dog is aggressive, the Hawaiian Humane Society advises calling police at 911.

Asked why HHS initially handled the matter itself, spokeswoman Jacque Smith said initial reports "were of a loose dog. ... If the dog acts aggressively, there's a concern for public safety," and police should be called immediately.

Police also can respond faster, she said.

"Calling the police immediately and even taking a photo of the dog can help to document the situation and may help make Sunset Beach safer for others," Smith added.

In this case, the humane society does have an investigation under way. Smith said you should call for an update.

In general, loose dogs "are a real problem on Oahu," she said. Last year, the HHS received more than 2,400 calls about loose and potentially aggressive dogs.

Smith said the humane society, along with police, does enforce the leash law on city beaches.

"This requires finding and capturing the dog, as well as locating the owner," she said. Fines can range from $50 to $500 and can include a mandatory court appearance.

Q: There has been an increase in vending activity on Waipahu Street about half a mile from Kamehameha Highway, daily from about 3 p.m. to 7 or 8 at night.

They pose a danger to both pedestrians and drivers due to the close proximity of an intersection and all the illegal parking along the roadway, not to mention no crosswalk markings. Why is nothing done about this? This activity has been going on for some time now. It just gets bigger, with more foot traffic.

A: Two vendors were cited months ago; one was fined $50, and the other had his case dismissed, said Sgt. Paul Gongob, of the Honolulu Police Department's Pearl City Station.

After receiving your complaint, an officer checked the area about 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Two vendors were given verbal warnings to stop their activity, Gongob said.

The officer checked the area again last Monday and found one vendor had returned, joined by a different vendor. Both were cited for a violation of Section 15-13-6(1) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, "Selling on Highways Restricted."

Officers will monitor the area, but call 911 if you see any vendor in the area, Gongob said.

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