I know I’m not alone in questioning a practice that has been allowed to flourish for many years, through many generations. A real problem that lurks in every neighborhood like a phantom — animal cruelty.
Now I’m talking about the horrible cruelty that involves dogs that are kept for no other reason than to breed. They exist for no other purpose than to replenish their owners’ coffers. Never mind that the poor animal’s right to give and receive love, to have proper nutrition and to have invigorating exercise to keep him or her happy be sacrificed in favor of the quick buck. No, they must reproduce in their dark, covered cages, some so filthy as to gag a maggot, or cause a rat to run for the hills. Under no circumstance are they to be shown love, nor attention, or any spark of human decency; a gentle touch, or kind word. They’re dogs. They must produce for their owners. Litter after litter. They must produce, produce, produce.
Need extra cash? Open up a puppy mill at the expense of your neighbor’s goodwill, patience, and in the end, ill will.
But what of the protectors? The ones whose duty it is to see that all animals are treated humanely. Of course, I’m talking about the Hawaii Island Humane Society.
Having called HIHS with a complaint, and seeing the response — two dewy-eyed kids who looked like they just graduated from high school yesterday — I knew I was in for it. It seemed they were there to demonstrate to me just how arrogant and condescending a pair of employees could be to a member of the general public. I was told sneeringly, after I voiced my complaint, that they would contact the owner of the two dogs and see if there was any violation. Gee, I was sorry I bothered them.
Later, after never hearing from HIHS regarding my grievance for weeks, I called it out of curiosity. A voice said the matter was investigated and they found no violation. In fact, the dogs were well-cared-for and had a nice, airy kennel in which to live. “Did they see it themselves?” I asked. “No, we’re not allowed on private property,” the voice said tersely. “Then how would you determine if the dogs were kept well?” I asked. “We take the owner’s word for it,” the voice replied. It’s a Catch-22.
Funny, though, just a couple of nights prior to my making that call, I saw the owner carrying one of the dogs. The dog was dead, and hung lifelessly in his arms. Where he took it to, I will never know.
I kept thinking, what if they had done their job that day? It would have made a world of difference, and the dog would still be alive today. What I later found out was that HIHS went one up on me that fine day. They allegedly instructed the dog owner in how to conceal the living conditions of the dogs from the prying eyes of the neighbors. Fait accompli.
How can an organization like this be fully funded? How can it criticize other animal rescue groups who are trying to help dogs and cats and have an animal’s best interest at heart?
The time has come to have our voices heard regarding our four-legged friends. They have no one to stand up for them. Certainly not the HIHS.
Any animal kept in deplorable conditions on this island deserves our undivided attention. Better yet, let’s shine the light on these so-called dog owners. Throw them into their rotten cages. Keep them under the sun’s blaze all day without food or water. Let’s see how they would like it. Sentient creatures have their rights.
Steve Bradford is a resident of Waikoloa.
Viewpoint articles are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of West Hawaii Today.