Dog attacks appear on the rise

The slaughter last week of Ernest the goat, the beloved mascot of Volcano Garden Arts, is raising awareness of the problem of roving packs of dogs around the island, and in the process, raising money for the Hawaii Island Humane Society.

Ernest was killed Aug. 31 when three dogs jumped into his enclosure, said Volcano Garden Arts owner Ira Ono. Two of the dogs were captured by the Humane Society, and their owner will be cited. A third ran away into the woods, Ono said.

Since then, Ono said he’s received an outpouring of sympathy from people, and an alarming number of people recounted similar loss of livestock, or injuries to themselves or others, from roaming dogs.

“We’ve gotten lovely sentiments from all over the country,” Ono said Tuesday. “(But) it’s a common tale. I think people should be aware that it’s a big problem all over the county.”

The Hawaii Island Humane Society works with the police when people report dog bites, but the agency often responds to pet and livestock maulings and killings on its own, said Executive Director Donna Whitaker. She thinks reports of dog attacks are about on par with last year.

“We work pretty closely with the police department,” Whitaker said. “That’s a pretty valuable partnership.”

So far this year, 39 people have reported to the police that they’ve been bitten by dogs, an upward trend over last year’s total of 45 for the entire year, according to Maj. Sam Thomas, of the Hawaii Police Department.

Donations in memory of Ernest the goat can be made to the Hawaii Island Humane Society, P.O. Box 939, Keaau, HI 96749.

Livestock and pets aren’t the only victims falling to unrestrained dogs.

Kurtistown farmer Deborah Ward is still getting rehabilitation for injuries she suffered more than a year ago when two massive pit bulls knocked her to the ground on her own property and chewed up her hand and leg.

She still hasn’t regained full use of her left hand, she said. But the mental anguish from post traumatic stress disorder may be even worse, she said.

Ward said just last month, she found herself in hysterics in the airport when a Transportation Security Administration canine sniffed her leg near the old injury.

“I went into hysterics … and that’s just not me,” Ward recounted. “You relive and relive and relive.”

Ward said shortly after her attack, she had vowed to be a crusader for tougher dangerous dog laws and laws curtailing what she sees as an increasing problem of packs of dogs roaming neighborhoods.

“There’s something about the system that’s completely broken,” Ward said. “The system is broken and people are terrified.”

But until she can overcome the PTSD that has her reliving her attack every time the subject comes up, she may not become the crusader she planned.

The county and state have laws governing licensing of pets, stray dogs and keeping dangerous dogs. Dog license fees are inexpensive: $2 for a spayed or neutered pet and $6 for one that’s not spayed or neutered. A dog without a current license is defined as a stray, under the county code.

Allowing a dog to stray can result in a fine from $25 up to $500 and 100 hours community service for repeat offenders. Losing control of a dangerous dog can result in a petty misdemeanor charge, with fines from $200 to $2,000 and up to 30 days in jail, under the county code.

Owners of dogs that attack others are also responsible for restitution to the victim, but that doesn’t always happen. Ward said she still needs thrice-weekly rehab sessions, but her Medicare has run out for the year so she has to wait until January to resume them. She received no restitution and the owners of the dogs have since left the area, she said.

Thomas believes there are a lot more attacks out there that simply go unreported.

“If (people) see an animal that appears sort of ornery, they should try to stay away from it,” Thomas said. “If it’s a stray, they should report it to the police or the Humane Society. It’s better to address it before someone gets hurt.”