RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, public safety is a concern with regard to dogs that have been determined to be vicious or dangerous, and communities may elect to adopt vicious- or dangerous-dog laws to help protect their residents; and

WHEREAS, such laws may stipulate specific requirements on those who keep vicious or dangerous dogs such as enclosed housing for the dog, impenetrable fencing, leash-length, muzzles, posted warning signs, sterilization of the dog, canine behavior training, and liability insurance; and

WHEREAS, vicious or dangerous dogs are those that have attacked or behaved in a terrorizing manner without provocation or have been trained or used for animal fighting; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, the Hawaii State Legislature passed Act 222, enabling each county to enact and enforce ordinances regulating people who own, harbor, or keep a dog that has injured, maimed, or killed another animal or person; and

WHEREAS, in June 2001, a dog attacked and killed an

18-month-old boy in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Puna, badly mauling the boy's mother; and

WHEREAS, in July 2001, a six-year-old boy in Makawao was mauled by a dog in his neighbor's yard and suffered wounds to his head, cheek, and arms; and

WHEREAS, in July 2002, a two-year-old boy in Pukalani was attacked by a dog and suffered bites to his neck, head, and face while at his baby sitter's home; and

WHEREAS, in January 2003, a dog leaped over a fence to inflict multiple bites on the arm, calf, and face of a five-year-old boy in Kihei; and

WHEREAS, in January 2004, a nine-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to his head, neck, arms, and legs from a dog in Waianae; and

WHEREAS, in February 2004, a neighbor's dog attacked and killed a 17-month-old boy in Moloaa; and

WHEREAS, the Maui Humane Society recently filed a motion in Wailuku District Court seeking permission to euthanize a pit bull that mauled a Pukalani woman in November 2004; and

WHEREAS, Kauai Humane Society officials have issued six dangerous-dog citations since the Kauai County dangerous-dog law became effective in October 2002; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii Island Humane Society officials issued ten dangerous-dog citations between July and December 2003; and

WHEREAS, Hawaiian Humane Society officials on Oahu issued 14 dangerous-dog citations in 2002 and 58 citations in 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Humane Society received 380 calls about dangerous dogs or bites, and issued 126 dangerous-dog warnings and 25 citations in 2004; and

WHEREAS, the spate of dog attacks on humans and property including other animals that has occurred since the passage of Act 222 indicates that further action is needed to prevent vicious or dangerous dogs from inflicting harm; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaiian Humane Society and Honolulu Police Department are requested to convene a Canine Attack Prevention Task Force (Task Force) consisting of representatives from the following:

(1) County humane societies;

(3) The Police Department of each county; and

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to explore the extent to which the public is endangered by dogs with a propensity for vicious or dangerous behavior. In particular, the Task Force is requested to:

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Council Chairperson of each county, the Presidents of the county humane societies, the Police Chief of each county, and the Prosecuting Attorney of each county.

Report Title:

Task Force; Vicious Animals; County Ordinances