I am so grateful to Governor Linda Lingle because she signed a bill to increase penalties for anyone convicted of cruelty to animals. I wanted to tell Governor Linda Lingle how much we animals appreciate her efforts. I know other people helped pass this law and I’d like to give all of you a big dog hug and dog kiss. I hope you won’t mind my cold, wet nose.
The measure, which was signed at the Hawaiian Humane Society, builds on the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s continuing commitment to protect pets from cruelty and neglect and to ensure Hawai‘i pet owners have the resources to care for their animals.
Governor Lingle said. “In return, we need to ensure that our pets are properly cared for and protected from cruelty and neglect.”
Under the measure, cruelty in the first degree occurs when a person “intentionally or knowingly tortures, mutilates or poisons or causes the torture, mutilation or poisoning of any pet animal resulting in serious bodily injury or death to the pet animal.” The bill defines pets as dogs, cats, domesticated rabbits, guinea pigs, domesticated pigs, or caged birds that are not bred for consumption.
Cruelty in the second degree applies to “every living creature except a human being.” It includes torturing, tormenting, beating, starving, overloading or overdriving an animal.
Forty-two other states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have felony cruelty animal laws.
Hawai‘i’s new law takes effect immediately.
“Governor Lingle has codified the notion that the people of Hawai‘i love their pets and want their communities protected from violent crime,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “Her compassionate stand galvanizes our work to bring about a zero tolerance policy for depraved acts of animal cruelty in every state in the country.”
PROTECTING PETS AND HELPING HAWAI‘I’S PET OWNERS
Since taking office in December 2002, the Lingle-Aiona Administration has worked with the humane societies on the different islands, animal rights advocates and pet owners to help ensure that animals are protected and pet owners have the resources to care for their animals. This is the best news a dog like me has heard, besides let’s go for a W-A-L-K.
Here is the scoops:
“Five-Day-or-Less” Animal Quarantine Program
On June 30, 2003, new administrative rules signed by Governor Linda Lingle took effect to reduce the amount of time pets entering the state have to stay in quarantine and to reduce the financial and emotional burden on pet owners.
The new program essentially eliminated lengthy quarantine for pets whose owners completed pre-arrival requirements and submitted required documents in a timely manner. Since the program was implemented, 83 percent of pets arriving at Honolulu International Airport have qualified for direct release to their owners. The program also allows Hawai`i residents to travel with their pets and return to the state without quarantine if they follow the specified procedures before they leave.
I got to go back to the mainland and then home to Hawaii with my mom. I had no problems thanks to Governor Lingle. I could never go into quarantine. I would have so much anxiety and be sick from a broken heart being away from my mom.
On the flight back to Hawaii last year, my mom was so excited to be taking me without quarantine that she told the folks sitting on the plane near her how grateful we both were to Linda Lingle. My mom talks to everyone. She is friendly and likes to hear what people have to say about their pets.
As my mom exited the airplane she saw Governor Linda Lingle on the gangway. My mom was amazed and thrilled to be able to personally thank her. Governor Lingle said she had heard everything my mom had said on the plane as she was only sitting a few rows away. The Governor was gracious enough to let my mom take this photo. We love you Governor Linda Lingle forever.
Legislation Enacted by Governor Linda Lingle
Act 114, SLH 2007 – Creates a felony offense for cruelty to animals. Act 114 adds a new Class C felony of “cruelty to animals in the first degree,” punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment of up to five years. The law also renames the existing misdemeanor provisions as “cruelty in the second degree,” which is punishable by a year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
Act 239, SLH 2006 – Allows a law enforcement officer with a search warrant to enter property where there is probable cause to believe an animal is being abused or neglected in order to provide the animal with food, water and emergency medical care. The new law also allows the Court to impound the animal and give it to a recognized shelter or organization to ensure the animal receives proper care.
Act 238 SLH 2006 – Ensures that the costs incurred by a humane society or other organization to house and care for an impounded animal would be reimbursed to the agency. Under the new law, the Court can order a defendant to surrender an animal that is being mistreated to a recognized animal care facility. The Court can also order the defendant to reimburse the organization for reasonable costs to care, feed and house the animal.
Act 117 SLH 2006 – Requires the State to provide suitable shelters for pets during an emergency.
Act 160 SLH 2005 – Allows pet owners to provide for the future care of their domestic pets or animals by validating wills or trusts for these animals.
I think my mom is leaving her house to me. I love the yard and doggie door. She needs to find a daddy to take care of me if she goes to the Rainbow Bridge. I think that is where people go when they die. I don’t ever want my mom to go away so I will love her as much as I can everyday.
Act 161 SLH 2005 – Authorizes the Board of Agriculture to allow use of the animal quarantine facilities for reasonable fair market rents or fees. Requires that all income received from the rental of quarantine facilities be used to defray costs of the animal quarantine program and provides that the rents and fees can be deposited into the animal quarantine special fund, thus helping owners of dogs and cats entering the state.
Governor Lingle is a pet owner. Governor Lingle owns two cats, a stray she found in Hilo (Nani Girl), and another that she adopted from the Hawaiian Humane Society named (Stripes). I wonder if she would like to meet a really fun golden retriever named Buddy the Dog.
I want to thank Russell Pang for assisting me in getting the correct information for this column. Sometimes it takes a dog like me longer to write a column than you humans. My paws just hit too many keys at times. I am working on using the keyboard on my mom’s computer.
Russell Pang is the Chief of Media Relations at the Office of the Governor Executive Chambers at the State Capitol in Honolulu, Hawai`i . You can reach him at (808)-586-0043. You can email him or Governor Linda Lingle at the address below. Please send her your thanks and tell her Buddy the Dog sent you.
Here is my favorite tennis ball.
www.hawaii.gov/gov
Thanks for reading my column and leave a comment. Please spread the Aloha Spirit wherever you live. Please hug your pet for me and call someone if you see an animal being hurt.
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