• All dogs should be on a leash in public • Hawaiians should feel for monk seals • Dog owners need to take responsibility • Waipouli construction can create traffic, floods All dogs should be on a leash in public
• All dogs should be on a leash in public • Hawaiians should feel for monk seals • Dog owners need to take responsibility • Waipouli construction can create traffic, floods
All dogs should be on a leash in public
Regarding the recent dog attacks at Moloaa Beach, I can only speak for MY dog. He is a well-socialized and well-behaved 85-pound lap dog that happens to be a pit bull. He is ALWAYS on leash when out of my yard (except for when we go to the KHS dog park). He gets along great with other dogs, large and small, and loves people.
I agree, these recent incidents were both tragic and unnecessary, and I feel for the owners and their animals. My son was attacked and bitten by an off-leash lab mix some years ago.
However, I have a question for Ms. Wagner: While mention was made of the aggressive dogs being off-leash, there is no mention made of whether the dogs which were attacked were in a fully enclosed yard or on or off leash.
All too often, irresponsible owners feel unrealistically safe because their dogs are in an unenclosed or semi-enclosed yard.
Also, many times irresponsible owners allow their off-leash dogs to run right up to my on-leash dog.
Smaller dogs in particular do so quite aggressively. My dog doesn’t bother with them, but in truth, ALL dogs big or small should be leashed when in public.
In closing, Ms. Wagner, if you think you can dictate to me whether I can or can’t bring my leashed, licensed and well-behaved dog to a public area, I have only one thing to say to you: See you in Moloaa.
Stan Koga
Kapaa
Hawaiians should feel for monk seals
It’s disheartening to read of so much misplaced anger toward the monk seals. I would encourage some of the local folks who don’t like the seals to take heed to what the long-time and well-respected local activist, Walter Ritte, has to say on the subject.
He explained to a young man on Molokai who had murdered a seal that the seals were here long before Hawaiians. He spoke of how Hawaiians, having been displaced and disregarded, should actually feel a kinship with the animals. He believes monk seals and man can coexist.
Maybe he could come to Kauai and help redirect the anger and frustration, and put these energies to a more constructive and meaningful purpose.
Katie Pickett
Kilauea
Dog owners need to take responsibility
With respect to the article about the pit bull attack at Moloaa Bay.
Firstly, my condolences to the owner who lost their dog. That’s sad.
I don’t know the circumstances, although it sounded like the pit bull owner had unsuccessfully tried to tie up their dogs to the buoy.
I can speak from my own experiences on this matter. It is very important for all dog owners who bring their animals into a public place, such as a beach, to be responsible and have their animals restrained, irregardless of the breed.
If the dog grabbed by the pit bull was loose then the owner must accept some responsibility for the loss of their pet.
Not all game dogs, such as pit bulls, are mad predators, but if they are agitated or shown aggression by a loose dog they can react in a very aggressive manner.
Several times when walking my own pit bull on a leash, on the beach we have been aggressively approached by loose dogs and despite my efforts to ward them off my dog has defended himself in a devastating manner.
I have then been accosted by the other dog owner complaining about my vicious dog, when in fact it was their loose dog that attacked my dog who was leashed.
So, I can only reiterate, that responsible dog owners will have their animals restrained.
Beaches are not dog parks — so blame the deed and not the breed.
Keep your dog safe — keep it on a leash.
Greg Strickland
Kapaa
Waipouli construction can create traffic, floods
A new Longs in Waipouli. The two big problems I see in building a store in that spot are that it will add to the traffic mess and it will push flood waters from that area to other places.
I have seen big flood waters standing in that area in the past.
The building will make it worse.
I’m not as worried about the grove of coco palms.
The coconut palm trees are going to die soon as their lifespan is about 125 years.
I would think they would need to install a traffic light at least to make this safe.
John Robinson
Kalaheo
