The animals depend on us
Tom Linder’s June 20 article barely scratches the surface of the animal welfare crisis we face. I am aware of too many stories to count of animals in Hawaii Rainbow Rangers’ (HRR) care living in filthy conditions, suffering in pain; as well as cats and dogs held in a warehouse, and no assistance provided to animals on the streets, even when a concerned citizen calls animal control.
When I called for a dog wandering our street, clearly in physical distress, no one at HRR answered. Since HRR has assumed the contract to provide animal control, I have never seen one of its trucks or vans in the community. Its social media sites have been scrubbed, and when there is content, the responses are a litany of complaints from folks who cannot reach them.
As a former Rainbow foster caregiver, I found the Rainbow facilities in Kurtistown reflect its gross negligence. When walking through this facility, I saw more sick cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens than I could count. There is a disconnect from Rainbow’s stated mission, the contract and what it is providing.
HRR receives $164,000 a month. It does not provide the most basic services as outlined in its police department contract, which needs to be canceled. Please call the mayor and police chief and share your concern. The animals in this community depend on us.
Shari Goettel
Hilo
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