LIHUE — Even though the county’s barking dog bill is back before the County Council for a second reading — the last step in the process before it becomes law — Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura doesn’t believe there’s enough information to
LIHUE — Even though the county’s barking dog bill is back before the County Council for a second reading — the last step in the process before it becomes law — Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura doesn’t believe there’s enough information to make a good decision.
On Monday, she said she was working on a presentation for Wednesday’s session that would provide new information to be considered before the bill goes to a vote.
“I’m looking at some data about the cases that went to the prosecuting attorney because I think we’re making decisions without looking at that data,” Yukimura said.
The barking dog bill has been heavily discussed at every step of the way and there have been some significant changes to the bill since it first showed up on the council floor in November.
The current draft of the bill is aimed at dogs that bark for 30 minutes within a 45-minute period of time, or continuously for 15 minutes and requires those who would want to report a barking dog to do so with the Kauai Humane Society.
Either a member from the Kauai Humane Society or the Kauai Police Department would respond to the complaint in person before a citation would be issued. As a final step, both parties would have a chance at mediation in order to work out their differences before the dog owner is fined.
“I’m happy that mediation got put in the bill,” said Councilman Mason Chock, “because that’s part of this whole thing — resolving disputes between neighbors.”
Everyone agrees that there needs to be an ordinance regulating barking dogs, but some council members have qualms about the current version of the bill. How it would be put into actual action is one of the biggest concerns.
“I’m assuming that they’re going to get a flood of calls coming in (after we pass this bill) and what worries me is that the humane society might not have the time or the personnel to respond to those calls,” said Councilman Ross Kagawa. “So those people wouldn’t have their complaints verified, so they’ll call the police.”
Police officers would then have to add those calls into their regular schedules, prioritizing them within the list of their other duties.
“There are problems in other counties, like the Big Island and Honolulu, where they have this same type of ordinance and there are complaints because the police aren’t responding,” Kagawa said. “At the beginning they go out, but then as time goes by they say it’s too low of a priority.”
Chock said he also has concerns about whether those entities have the resources to respond to barking dog claims and looks forward to hearing from the prosecuting attorney, the humane society, and KPD at Wednesday’s meeting.
Kagawa said if the bill passes the council on Wednesday and becomes law, he hopes some of the more severe and chronic offenders are caught and those who are “purposefully being cruel to their neighbors” would face justice.
“I’ve got mixed feelings as far as how this thing is going to turn out in the end,” Kagawa said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
