HAIKU — So you like dogs or cats, and maybe have a pet of your own. You know the responsibilities of pet ownership — you feed your pet, keep it healthy, safe, clean and housed, exercising it and giving it
HAIKU — So you like dogs or cats, and maybe have a pet of your own. You know the responsibilities of pet ownership — you feed your pet, keep it healthy, safe, clean and housed, exercising it and giving it the attention and love that dogs and cats deserve and desire.
Or do you? At the Kaua‘i Humane Society in Puhi, KHS Executive Director Dr. Becky Rhoades spoke of the responsibility pet owners have to their neighbors and the community and of common problems caused by neglectful pet owners.
Attitudes towards pet ownership vary as much as the animals and humans themselves, with behavior ranging from the dog owner who pampers their poodle in yoga outfits and takes their Chihuahua to the chiropractor, to the family that barely remembers to keep their dog’s bowl filled with fresh water, she said.
For some people, however, a dog is something kept on a chain outside the house; a living, snarling security system. And cats, well, they are cute when they are small, but once old enough, they are left to do as they please, coming and going at will, she said.
Today, the well-established, feral-cat population continues to fill the island with unwanted and un-cared for animals, and loose dogs, both strays and pets, run free, often posing a threat to other animals, people and themselves.
The problem is especially pronounced on North Shore beaches and communities, Rhoades said.
She reminded folks that, ultimately, responsibility lies with the humans, not the animals.
Most dog owners believe that their unrestrained dogs will not stray from the yard. Given the chance, though, most dogs will leave their property and, once they do, their owners are violating (knowingly or unknowingly) Kaua‘i county’s leash law. The ordinance dictates that all dogs must be leashed when off the owner’s property, whether it is on the street, at the beach or in the mountains.
Those cited for violation are subject to a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $150 per dog beyond that. Far more serious than a fine is the real possibility that a dog who may well be a loving pooch at home, in another situation turns into a fear or defense biter.
When a dog injures someone directly or indirectly, the owner is responsible.
“Even the best-behaved dog could potentially hurt an elderly person, a child or a pregnant woman,” said Rhoades. In February this year, a 15-month-old child was killed in Moloa‘a when he was mauled by a dog that lived its life on a chain protecting the neighbor’s farm. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million people, mostly children, are bitten by dogs each year.
“Part of the challenge,” Rhoades said, “is that Kaua‘i is seen as very rural, which it is in some places. But most of us actually live very close to others. As the population grows, there is sometimes resistance to change.” With approximately one in three households owning a dog, the potential for trouble is as real as the law is clear.
“The law is really black and white,” Rhoades said, “but basically it boils down to just being a good neighbor, being considerate, and looking out for your animals and the people around you.” In addition to keeping your dog safely confined on your property or on a leash, cleaning up after your dog when you walk it or take it out, and making sure your dog is sufficiently trained and socialized to avoid excessive barking, are keys to creating better canine citizens, Rhoades said.
Rhoades suggested many potential problems could be thwarted by simple communication. If you are having a problem with an animal in your neighborhood, let the owner know, or if there is no clear owner, call KHS for help. In the case of a dangerous dog, officers with the Kaua‘i Police Department may intervene.
Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc. leaders also have a program for mediating neighborhood disputes.
Rhoades said KHS officials offer numerous services and classes, including spay-neuter and identification programs, dog-biteprevention classes, obedience training, pet boarding, animal rescue, and cruelty investigations.
She added that KHS also lends humane traps for capturing feral cats, chickens and dogs.
Life on Kaua‘i really can be a beach for both humans and pets, she said. Many humans and pets practically live outside — at the beach, in parks, on trails, in the water and in yards, with windows open year round. Dogs and cats certainly make life in paradise more enjoyable, and with a little thought, consideration and care, all can keep it pleasant and safe for families, neighbors and pets, Rhoades concluded.
