• My story about Honey • More on Honey • Churchill and UH • Real estate costs My story about Honey I was also one of the people who cared for Honey. When I heard what had happened to her
• My story about Honey
• More on Honey
• Churchill and UH
• Real estate costs
My story about Honey
I was also one of the people who cared for Honey. When I heard what had happened to her I immediately went to see Dr. Rhoades to get some answers. I asked her why she had killed Honey, she told me she had “euthanized” Honey because she was so unhappy being in a cage, I explained to her that all of us had planned to visit her every day.
In the six months that Honey lived at KARC every day we were making progress in obtaining her trust in humans. All we wanted was two weeks to work with her after she was spayed.
I am glad that this incident will be discussed at the next board meeting of the Kauai Humane Society. I would like to challenge the board to have the courage to let those of us who cared for Honey tell our story and speak of our concerns. If they don’t, I’d like to offer the following suggestions to further prevent any such accidents from happening again;
1. Each animal that is brought into the shelter should have an “information sheet” similar to what a doctor brings into the hospital or medical clinic room when he is seeing a patient. This “patients” chart should be kept with the animal at all times.
2. No individual, including the Executive Director of the Humane Society, should have the sole authority to put down an animal. Staff members, including the agency’s employee who brings in the animal and the individual (if any) listed on the “patients information sheet,” should be consulted.
If the above policies would be implemented it may save other loved ones.
J. Ta‘afuli
Lihu‘e
More on Honey
I am writing this letter on the anniversary of the death of my grandson, Trusten Heart Liddle. He died last year after being attacked by a dog. The dog was an unsocialized dog at the end of a long chain that reached onto our property.
I was saddened to read the article about Honey the unsocialized dog that was killed by the humane society. But I do understand the danger and liability involved in keeping a dog like Honey alive. If she were to be given back to the people who wanted her and she were to escape from their yard and then hurt another person, who then is to blame?
I believe the real problem lies in the inconsistency of the humane society to implement a program to deal with the handling of unsocialized dogs. I also believe that we, the public, need to learn how to better train and care for our dogs. We need to understand that owning a dog is not a casual undertaking. That they are not a throwaway object. That we can make a dog into a well mannered member of society or a cringing, fearful being that is no longer a pet, but a danger to society.
It seems that honey could have been given a little longer to be observed and become acclimated with her surroundings before a death warrant was made. When someone wants to adopt a dog, isn’t there a set time for them to be kept and observed before a decision is made as to their fate? Is one person responsible for making verdict as to the mental health of the dog?
The rules and regulations need to be reviewed and should be made public that “misunderstandings” don’t happen. Then the humane society should consistently follow those rules.
Not all dogs should be saved, but all dogs should be given a consistent chance.
Susan Liddle
Kapa‘a
Churchill and UH
In reference to your article in The Garden Island on Feb 19. I was astonished and angry to learn that Ward Churchill is being invited to speak at the University of Hawai‘i. What an outrage. For those who allege our universities are a stronghold of faculty members that hate America this gives them uncontrovertable evidence that it is true. This man spews forth lies and untruths continuously. Is this what we want our students to learn? This is not a case of first amendments free speech rights. It is sad that some intellectual idiots will allow incitement and lies to be presented as free speech. Is this the way we want our tax dollars spent? I suggest they next invite Osama Bi n Laden to speak at the university. They are certainly in my opinion comparably evil and he could support the faculty’s Hate America program. I would hope that those private and corporate contributors to the university would remember this and choose not to help fund this travesty.
Robert Yount
Koloa
Real estate costs
I read with interest the recent article in letters pertaining to affordable housing. That together with another article in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin describing Kaua‘i leading the state with the highest real estate pricing. Whoever thought that this would be happening. Those borne and raised here have always known about the natural beauty the island presents.
As the letter writer wrote there are so many factors to be considered. First the building materials, wages for skilled builders, custom homes, real estate companies, and finally the high cost of land. I’m sure along the way all that will be resolved with many giving back a little.
There appears to be many factors, however, has anyone pointed a finger to local home owners as a contributor? Look at the sellers, they aren’t off-island people. Many of the sellers are close to retirement, and who have opted to relocate elsewhere. Most of them to Vegas where it’s been talked as the second largest Hawaiian community outside the state. Others are children inheriting their parents home and property. One can’t fault them for getting the highest value for the dollar. However, there should be a sense of conscious when selling. Locals should be in the formula somehow. Seller should remember many of their family and friends who are remaining to raise their children or for other reasons, want a chance to buy a house of their own. I’m not saying give the properties away with no profit. I say give those behind a chance with some aloha.
Gil Furtado
Toronto
