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DANGEROUS DOG COMPLAINT

Hawaii County Code section 4-31 Dangerous Dog is defined as:

• A dog owner commits the offense of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog, if the person negligently fails to take reasonable measures to prevent the dog from attacking, without provocation, a person or animal and such attack results in:
• The maiming or causing of serious injury to or the destruction of an animal; or
• Bodily injury to a person.

Humane Society Action Taken

• Humane Society will initiate a Dangerous Dog complaint only if the dog has maimed or caused serious injury to or the destruction of an animal. Humane Society will only initiate complaint during their normal working hours of 9:00 A.M. thru 5:00 P.M. Monday thru Friday and 8:00 A.M. thru 4:00 P.M. on Saturdays.

Police Action Taken

• The Police Department will initiate a Dangerous Dog complaint if the dog has caused any bodily injury to a person.

• If a dog has maimed or caused serious injury to or the destruction of an animal when Humane Society is not open.

Penalties for Dangerous Dog

Hawaii County Code Section 04-31, a dog owner convicted under Dangerous Dog shall be sentenced to one or more of the following:

• A fine not less that $200.00 nor more than $2,000;
• A period of imprisonment of up to thirty days, or in lieu of imprisonment, a period of probation of not more than six months;
• Restitution to any individual who has suffered bodily injury or property damage as a result of an attack by the dog.

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STRAY DOG COMPLAINT

Hawaii County Code section 4-30 Permitting Dog to Stray is defined as:

• A dog owner commits the offense of Permitting Dog to Stray, if any dog strays upon any public lands or private lands

(B) “Stray” means:

• An unlicensed dog or dog without a license for the current year:

(2) Any dog on the premises of a person other than the owner of the Dog, without the consent of an occupant of such premises;

• Any dog on a public street, public or private school grounds, or in any other public place, except when under the control of the owner by leash, cord, chain, or other similar means of physical restraint.

Humane Society Action Taken

• Humane Society will initiate a Permitting Dog to Stray warning/complaint during their normal working hours of 9:00 A.M. thru 5:00 P.M. Monday thru Friday and 8:00 A.M. thru 4:00 P.M. on Saturdays.

 

• Humane Society may seize any stray dogs if the owner is unknown or the owner of the dog is not at home.

   

  • Humane Society does lend out cat/dog traps with a deposit fee of $50.00. Once the animal is trapped, bring it to the shelter.

  Police Action Taken

  • The Police Department may initiate a Permitting Dog to Stray Complaint if the owner is known and the Humane Society is not open.

  (B) The Police Department may call the Humane Society to seize any Stray dog if the owner is unknown or not at home.

  Penalties for Stray Dog

  Hawaii County Code Section 04-30, a dog owner convicted under Permitting Dog to Stray, there shall be a penalty of $25.00 for the first violation. The second violation has a penalty of $50.00, the third $75.00, and any subsequent violation a fine up to $500.00.

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  NOISY DOG COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

  These procedures must be followed for each incident.

  BEFORE calling the Police the person disturbed by the noisy dog MUST make all reasonable attempts to contact the owner or custodian of the dog, informing them of this problem

  Complainant should document the contact or all reasonable attempts to contact the dog owner. Include how, date, time, what transpired, witness to the event. This information will be necessary when you testify in court.

  After the above steps have been completed, and the dog continues barking constantly for ten minutes or intermittently for twenty minutes in a thirty minute time period, then call police at 935 – 3311.

  Police Action Taken

  After the above steps have been taken, the Police must advise the dog owner of the complaint and provisions of the law.

  The dog owner/custodian has one hour after Police notification to abate/remedy the noisy dog.

  If the noisy dog is not quieted after one hour, recall the Police. The officer will initiate a criminal complaint.

  No Contact with Dog Owner

  If person disturbed by the noisy dog or the Police are unable to contact the dog owner, no criminal complaint will be made. Ask the officer for the M/P number of that incident to include in future reports.

  Penalties for Noisy Dog

  Hawaii County Code Section 4-25, there shall be a penalty of $25.00 for the first violation of this section. The second violation has a penalty of $75.00, the third $100.00, and any subsequent violation $200.00.