Help clean up oceans, avoid single-use plastics
Thank you for the comprehensive article on “Plastic’s big picture” in the Saturday, March 3 issue of The Garden Island.
The one piece that I found missing was what every person reading the newspaper has the ability to do. Those plastics on the beach and in the ocean did not come just from cruise ships.
While stuck in traffic driving by the “opening soon” Ross in Kapaa, I saw plastic trash from the Dumpster flying by in the wind, headed for the beach. Every time you use “disposable” plastic and throw it in the trash it has the potential to end up in our ocean.
The sooner we stop buying takeout food in plastic, drinking our beverages from plastic, hosting parties using plastic dishes, cups and utensils, the less plastics will end up in the ocean and on our beaches.
You have the power. Help clean up our oceans: Eliminate single-use plastics in your life!
Ruta Jordans, Kapaa
Dog running free kills pet; child could be next
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, around 4:05 p.m., while taking my leashed dog for her daily walk by the coconut trees in front of the Kekaha pavilions close to the playground, a loose white pit bull came out of nowhere and sunk his jaws in her.
I screamed and tried to get the dog to release her. Three courageous ladies, who were in the Kekaha Neighborhood pavilion, came over to help me open the jaws of the pit bull, which was clenched tightly on my dog’s neck. I was too traumatized and worried about the well-being of my dog to get their names or thank them.
I would like to thank them through your paper and express my gratitude for all they did. They told me that the dog was not theirs and didn’t know who the dog belonged to.
I immediately called Kauai Veterinary Clinic after hours, saying this was an emergency. I brought her in for an assessment. They performed an emergency operation. The veterinarian called to inform me that the surgery went well but her injuries were so extensive that her chances of survival were slim.
The following morning, the clinic called to say she did not make it through the night.
I was told to make a police report. I did on the same day as the attack. It was also recommended to make a report to the Kauai Humane Society. Since it was late in the evening and the Kauai Humane Society was closed, I left a message on the answering machine.
I spoke to my neighbor and she told me that she did see the dog running around in the morning.
So, if you’re the owner of this dog, you had better do something since it could be a child, next.
Susan Morimoto, Kekaha
Day. That petebull was being friendly with your dog. Friends.
Susan, I am so sorry for your loss. When is Kauai going to pass an ordinance banning pit bulls?
I have walked the path in Kapaa, when an older couple walking a pit bull with a ‘service dog’ vest came toward me, the dog trying to lunge and growl at me, obviously NOT a service animal!
Try a golden retriever instead!
Perhaps it will take the Mayor’s child, or grandchild, getting killed by a Pit Bull before an ordinance is passed to ban this breed from existence! There is no excuse for allowing a breed of dog that for over a century has been bred to fight and kill to exist in our society! Seven out of ten deaths of our children and other dogs are courtesy of Pit Bulls!! Anyone reading this who doesn’t feel the same, how dare you tell anyone to give up their guns used for their protection when you won’t even face the real facts about your cute little killers!! My bet is that more children have been killed by Pit Bulls than assault rifles over the past 50 years! You want that bet?
Great point Gordon! I’ll take your side of the bet.
Pit bulls were bred to kill other dogs. That is their purpose. Our dog was also almost killed by a pit bull while our dog was on a leash. There is no place for pit bulls in a civilized society.
It is so crazy that Hawaii has so many regulations on gun ownership, which is a constitutional right and is the bedrock of our democracy. Yet, they do nothing about pit bulls, which provide nothing useful in a civilized society.
Susan, I know your traumatized, but if you can do anything to stop this pit bull, please do.
Susan, the first rule when walking your dog on this island is to have protection and a plan……more than likely, you will run in to a loose dog.
A plan on what are you going to do if attacked by another dog, and what you are going to do with your dog.
You need something to protect yourself and your dog. You can research what is legal or illegal, but speaking for myself, I’ll protect myself and my dog first, then deal with the repercussions of defending myself later.
98% of people walking dogs on this island are transplants. You will rarely see a local walking a dog. They know how dogs are caged, chained, abused by hunters, and left to starve in the woods. Dog-on-dog attacks happen a lot on this island. Be prepared. Sincerely sorry for your loss.
Lenny:
Congratulations! You’ve managed to hit the trifecta with your letter: a likely racist reference to “transplants”; the use of “gay” as a pejorative; and a threat of physical violence using a dog as a weapon.