STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2929

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 677

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 677 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Limit the use of tethers and certain other types of restraints that are known to endanger dogs or prevent dogs from receiving necessary sustenance;

(2) Allow tethering for not more than twenty-four consecutive hours, but only by means of a chest harness around a dog; and

(3) Prohibit the sale, distribution, or use of electric shock dog collars.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Seattle TTouch LLC, ProDog Hawaii, Pawsitive Pals Plus, and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Ulupalakua Ranch; Partnership for Electronic Training Technology; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Sit Means Sit Dog Training; Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service; YourVet Maui; Advanced K-9s, International Association of Canine Professionals; Paw and Order Dog Training; Woof Gang Rehab and Rescue; Bark! Bark! BackYard; Mutts and Manners Dog Training; Off Leash K9 Training; The Noble Dogs; Zuri Pet Rescue; Smart K9 Training; and over two hundred fifty individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Hawaiian Humane Society, Pono Advocacy, The Humane Society of the United States, Stop Hawaii Dog Abuse, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Aloha Animal Advocates, Animal Interfaith Alliance, and fifty-eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the proposed S.D. 1 from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure or the proposed S.D. 1 from one individual.

Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of the measure and inserts language to:

(1) Prohibit specified trolleys, pulleys, cables, or running lines designed to attach a dog to two stationary objects in a configuration that endangers the dog, including by depriving the dog of sustenance;

(2) Prohibit tethering or restraining a dog under the age of six months unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner;

(3) Prohibit tethering or restraining a dog with a tow or log chain if the tow or log chain inhibits the free movement of the dog;

(4) Prohibit tethering or restraining a dog with a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner; and

(5) Take effect on October 1, 2020.

Your Committee finds that keeping a dog restrained or tied to a stationary object, known as tethering, for short periods of time may be acceptable for purposes such as exercising, training, or taking the dog outdoors; however, continual restraint over a long period of time significantly restricts a dog's movement, which can lead to neglect, injury, and behavior changes, including the dog becoming neurotic, anxious, and aggressive. Therefore, your Committee finds that allowing dogs to be continually tethered or chained poses a greater danger to the dog as well as to people, whereas restricting this practice to appropriate circumstances can protect pets and make communities safer by reducing dog bites and attacks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 677, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 677, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair