Letters for Feb. 8, 2016 Community solution needed for cat problem We didn’t come to Kauai on vacation in December looking for a cat. But cats seemed to be everywhere, including one outside our rented condo. Indeed, in 2014 it
Letters for Feb. 8, 2016
Community solution needed for cat problem
We didn’t come to Kauai on vacation in December looking for a cat. But cats seemed to be everywhere, including one outside our rented condo.
Indeed, in 2014 it was estimated there were 15,000 to 20,000 feral cats on the island. The Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project reported in 2014 that feral cats are killing endangered seabirds at high numbers even in remote and rugged areas of the island. In a 2014 Hawaii News Now article titled “Camera records feral cats attacking endangered Hawaiian birds,” one cat hit nine different burrows in a remote bird colony in one night.
In a report Kauai County paid $30,000 for in March 2014, the Feral Cat Task Force set a timeline to essentially target every outdoor cat to be either contained or exterminated.
One would think, under these circumstances, that if a vacationer were willing to take a cat home, the Kauai Humane Society could facilitate this. It certainly wouldn’t seek to profit? In an attempt to adopt “Condo Kitty” we hit roadblocks: adoption fees, vet checks, purchase and delivery of carrier to KHS, employee time to deliver cat to airport (volunteer not allowed), and purchasing freight ticket. Total: approximately $500. How about at least waiving the adoption fee? Nope.
Before giving up, we turned to the Kauai Cat Project. At no cost to us, “Condo Kitty” is at home in Seattle. The Kauai cat problem is one that needs a creative, multifocal and community-wide solution. Sadly, the Humane Society is not on board.
Maureen Mayo
Gig Harbor, Washington
Opposed to manager system
I do not support the county manager form of government because I believe that it is better for the voters to elect the top official in the county rather than have that person selected by five members of the council.
Those who advocate for the county manager system want to be sure that the person leading the county has proper academic credentials and successful administrative experience in municipal government. I think that we could satisfy those criteria by electing Nadine Nakamura as mayor.
Linda Estes
Koloa
