Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Letters for Wednesday, January 7, 2009
• Cruelty or culture?
• Waterfall danger
• Find hope in God
• Random urinalysis is un-American
Cruelty or culture?
With the new year, I have made a resolution. I have decided to speak up when I see a problem that has been ignored. I have been seeing cruel behavior and can not in good conscious continue to be quiet out of respect.
The thrill of the hunt and the need for food has driven Hawaiian culture to take up local hunting. It is beneficial for the island considering we would become over populated with wild pigs and the meat feeds our families and others in our community.
The tools needed for the hunt included with a weapon are sometimes a group of hunting dogs. These dogs are sometimes a necessity due to the dense forests the wild pig live in. These dogs are tools but are dogs none the less and have the same needs as any regular household pet.
Unfortunately, there is a problem in Hawai‘i that needs to be addressed even though culture is involved. I think there has always been a stigma attached to challenging a cultures practices even when we see that it is considered cruel and unnecessary, we tend to turn a blind eye.
Basic necessities for any dog at the minimum should be food, water, and exercise. A dog can live without shelter for the most part especially here in Hawai‘i with our moderate temperatures. A dog can live without attention and love as well. We can’t make laws to make you love your dogs, but we should have and enforce laws to the other issues and necessities.
I have witnessed what I consider to be cruel behavior toward hunting dogs first-hand. My neighbor has a small kennel with four doors and about eight dogs in it. We would see him every three or four days spray out the bottom of the kennels and maybe drop some food on the floor of the kennels for the dogs. The dogs are never let out to exercise or stretch at all. At night when the air gets still the smell is sometimes so bad we have to close all our windows on that side of the house.
On one occasion they had a puppy that was getting out on a regular basis. We were afraid that it was going to get hit in the road so my wife took the puppy over the fence to place it back in the kennels and was horrified to see that all the dogs were extremely thin, malnourished and some of the dogs had festering sores. They looked like the pictures from the German concentration camps you see in history books.
With reservation and coaxing from my wife, I contacted the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and let them know of the problems that we have observed. They came out, looked and left with no further action or contact to our surprise.
Now months later, and another call to the ASPCA with no response, our neighbor appears to have moved to another home but has kept his dogs here next door. He shows up one or so times a week as far as we can tell to feed the dogs. We have noticed the dogs conditions are getting worse and are beginning to fight between their bars in their cages, biting and wounding each other.
Now, yet another problem arises. I don’t know who to contact to save these dogs and stop this cruelty. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seems to not be doing what they are designated to do or their definition of cruelty is different from that of the dictionary.
Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy. The aloha spirit needs to be practice in all we do including the way we treat our animals whether they are used for business, hunting, or for our kids.
I’m hoping this letter might give a push to the persons in charge to confront this issue and enforce the laws that have been set in place to protect innocent animals from these conditions and misery. I am not an avid animal activist but I know cruel behavior when I see it.
• Adam Orens, Kapa‘a
Waterfall danger
The two recent deaths at the bottom of waterfalls (“Second body in 2 days found near waterfalls,” The Garden Island, Jan. 3) reminded me of comments my daughter made to me many years ago.
On one of my first trips to Kaua‘i almost 10 years ago, my daughter and I were kayaking one of the streams on the north part of Kaua‘i. I remember her telling me not to go under a waterfall because you don’t know what can come down with the water because you can get hit in the head.
With all the recent rains we’ve had lately there is probably more debris that has come loose, and is floating in the water making its way to the waterfalls, and to the sea.
One just has to look at the Wailua river, and the mess of branches that have washed up in Lydgate Park.
Hanging out at the bottom of a waterfall looks enticing, but it can be very dangerous, as we found out this week.
• Michael Lyman, Lihu‘e
Find hope in God
As a tourist, now for the fifth time, I’m greatly enjoying Kaua‘i and your paper. So much so that I have to respond.
Ms. Donna Brazile wrote “Hope is on the way” in your Jan. 3 paper. She touts Sen. Obama and she says “Everyone I know has hope.”
With all due respect, she sounds like someone waiting for the next winner on American Idol. Brilliant as he may be, Obama, or anyone for that matter, can’t be a source of hope.
The key to the right source for hope is provided in another of your columns, this one by Dr. Monty Downs, emergency room physician at Wilcox. In his column of Jan. 2 exploring how to cut down ocean safety tragedies, he first pointed to prayer.
That was Gen. Washington’s strategy at Valley Forge, FDR’s response just prior to D Day, Lincoln’s second inaugural address, among many instances of American history.
Let’s pray that President-elect Obama, who works out physically a reported 90 minutes a day, will spend at least half of that time on his knees praying for the hope and wisdom that comes from the living holy spirit.
As he humbles himself, really sincerely searching for God’s guidance, may divine providence be reestablished in these United States.
• Jeff Daly, Middletown, Calif.
Random urinalysis is un-American
Concerning Howard Tolbe’s letter, (“Drug test teachers randomly,” Letters, Jan. 2), what is it that Mr. Tolbe does not understand about the Fourth Amendment?
It states in plain English that no search shall be conducted without a warrant showing probable cause.
Seizing someone’s urine randomly in no way meets the criteria of probable. Random urinalysis is un-American.
• Allan Erickson, Eugene, Ore.
• Waterfall danger
• Find hope in God
• Random urinalysis is un-American
Cruelty or culture?
With the new year, I have made a resolution. I have decided to speak up when I see a problem that has been ignored. I have been seeing cruel behavior and can not in good conscious continue to be quiet out of respect.
The thrill of the hunt and the need for food has driven Hawaiian culture to take up local hunting. It is beneficial for the island considering we would become over populated with wild pigs and the meat feeds our families and others in our community.
The tools needed for the hunt included with a weapon are sometimes a group of hunting dogs. These dogs are sometimes a necessity due to the dense forests the wild pig live in. These dogs are tools but are dogs none the less and have the same needs as any regular household pet.
Unfortunately, there is a problem in Hawai‘i that needs to be addressed even though culture is involved. I think there has always been a stigma attached to challenging a cultures practices even when we see that it is considered cruel and unnecessary, we tend to turn a blind eye.
Basic necessities for any dog at the minimum should be food, water, and exercise. A dog can live without shelter for the most part especially here in Hawai‘i with our moderate temperatures. A dog can live without attention and love as well. We can’t make laws to make you love your dogs, but we should have and enforce laws to the other issues and necessities.
I have witnessed what I consider to be cruel behavior toward hunting dogs first-hand. My neighbor has a small kennel with four doors and about eight dogs in it. We would see him every three or four days spray out the bottom of the kennels and maybe drop some food on the floor of the kennels for the dogs. The dogs are never let out to exercise or stretch at all. At night when the air gets still the smell is sometimes so bad we have to close all our windows on that side of the house.
On one occasion they had a puppy that was getting out on a regular basis. We were afraid that it was going to get hit in the road so my wife took the puppy over the fence to place it back in the kennels and was horrified to see that all the dogs were extremely thin, malnourished and some of the dogs had festering sores. They looked like the pictures from the German concentration camps you see in history books.
With reservation and coaxing from my wife, I contacted the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and let them know of the problems that we have observed. They came out, looked and left with no further action or contact to our surprise.
Now months later, and another call to the ASPCA with no response, our neighbor appears to have moved to another home but has kept his dogs here next door. He shows up one or so times a week as far as we can tell to feed the dogs. We have noticed the dogs conditions are getting worse and are beginning to fight between their bars in their cages, biting and wounding each other.
Now, yet another problem arises. I don’t know who to contact to save these dogs and stop this cruelty. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seems to not be doing what they are designated to do or their definition of cruelty is different from that of the dictionary.
Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy. The aloha spirit needs to be practice in all we do including the way we treat our animals whether they are used for business, hunting, or for our kids.
I’m hoping this letter might give a push to the persons in charge to confront this issue and enforce the laws that have been set in place to protect innocent animals from these conditions and misery. I am not an avid animal activist but I know cruel behavior when I see it.
• Adam Orens, Kapa‘a
Waterfall danger
The two recent deaths at the bottom of waterfalls (“Second body in 2 days found near waterfalls,” The Garden Island, Jan. 3) reminded me of comments my daughter made to me many years ago.
On one of my first trips to Kaua‘i almost 10 years ago, my daughter and I were kayaking one of the streams on the north part of Kaua‘i. I remember her telling me not to go under a waterfall because you don’t know what can come down with the water because you can get hit in the head.
With all the recent rains we’ve had lately there is probably more debris that has come loose, and is floating in the water making its way to the waterfalls, and to the sea.
One just has to look at the Wailua river, and the mess of branches that have washed up in Lydgate Park.
Hanging out at the bottom of a waterfall looks enticing, but it can be very dangerous, as we found out this week.
• Michael Lyman, Lihu‘e
Find hope in God
As a tourist, now for the fifth time, I’m greatly enjoying Kaua‘i and your paper. So much so that I have to respond.
Ms. Donna Brazile wrote “Hope is on the way” in your Jan. 3 paper. She touts Sen. Obama and she says “Everyone I know has hope.”
With all due respect, she sounds like someone waiting for the next winner on American Idol. Brilliant as he may be, Obama, or anyone for that matter, can’t be a source of hope.
The key to the right source for hope is provided in another of your columns, this one by Dr. Monty Downs, emergency room physician at Wilcox. In his column of Jan. 2 exploring how to cut down ocean safety tragedies, he first pointed to prayer.
That was Gen. Washington’s strategy at Valley Forge, FDR’s response just prior to D Day, Lincoln’s second inaugural address, among many instances of American history.
Let’s pray that President-elect Obama, who works out physically a reported 90 minutes a day, will spend at least half of that time on his knees praying for the hope and wisdom that comes from the living holy spirit.
As he humbles himself, really sincerely searching for God’s guidance, may divine providence be reestablished in these United States.
• Jeff Daly, Middletown, Calif.
Random urinalysis is un-American
Concerning Howard Tolbe’s letter, (“Drug test teachers randomly,” Letters, Jan. 2), what is it that Mr. Tolbe does not understand about the Fourth Amendment?
It states in plain English that no search shall be conducted without a warrant showing probable cause.
Seizing someone’s urine randomly in no way meets the criteria of probable. Random urinalysis is un-American.
• Allan Erickson, Eugene, Ore.
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
sjones791 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 9:44 AM:
" How I wish I had as much time on my hands as Howard Tolbe. Among his many published opinions, this guy believes in random drug testing of our teachers even though, according to his next letter, truck drivers should be better paid. Never mind that pesky college degree or the remarkable restraint that our public school teachers must possess! Perhaps Mr.Tolbe is unaware that truckers rank in the top 3 professions that abuse methamphetamines. In addition, they go virtually untested as most of them are self-employed private contractors. I believe I much prefer a history teacher who parties on the weekend to a trucker who hasn't slept in 4 days operating a 20-ton rig at 70 mph down our public highways. Read up on the Fourth Amendment, sir, and thank a teacher today that you can read. "
kauaifred wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:15 AM:
" RE: Random urinalysis
Mr. Erickson ... the 4th amendment deals with the interactions between law enforcement personnel and civilians. Your employer, even as a teacher who works for the government in a public school, is not law enforcement personnel and you are not under threat of arrest and/or imprisonment as a result of your drug test. It is a condition of employment that employees remain drug free and the employer is legally allowed to test for adherence to that condition. If the government were proposing random drug testing of civilians and those who failed the test would end up in prison then your argument would have merit. Since that isn't what we are talking about it doesn't. "
Mr. Erickson ... the 4th amendment deals with the interactions between law enforcement personnel and civilians. Your employer, even as a teacher who works for the government in a public school, is not law enforcement personnel and you are not under threat of arrest and/or imprisonment as a result of your drug test. It is a condition of employment that employees remain drug free and the employer is legally allowed to test for adherence to that condition. If the government were proposing random drug testing of civilians and those who failed the test would end up in prison then your argument would have merit. Since that isn't what we are talking about it doesn't. "
Shyla wrote on Jan 7, 2009 5:32 PM:
" Dingo and Me.
In response to the "cruelty or culture" letter to the editor.
Not all hunters use dogs. Not all hunters act in the ways that you have described as animal neglect. I grew up around hunting dogs from the moment I could walk, my grandfather had by the dozens of hunting dogs...loose in our yard. If you understand more about hunting you would understand that these dogs are not your ordinary "household pet". You raise a hunting dog to be a hunter, like in their normal state that humans deformed them from, a.k.a. = WOLVES or wild dogs. I'm not an animal activist but I know better than to judge a book by its cover. Watch some Cesar Milan shows for comfort and peace. Leave the hunting to the hunters and mind your own. ~Aloha "
In response to the "cruelty or culture" letter to the editor.
Not all hunters use dogs. Not all hunters act in the ways that you have described as animal neglect. I grew up around hunting dogs from the moment I could walk, my grandfather had by the dozens of hunting dogs...loose in our yard. If you understand more about hunting you would understand that these dogs are not your ordinary "household pet". You raise a hunting dog to be a hunter, like in their normal state that humans deformed them from, a.k.a. = WOLVES or wild dogs. I'm not an animal activist but I know better than to judge a book by its cover. Watch some Cesar Milan shows for comfort and peace. Leave the hunting to the hunters and mind your own. ~Aloha "
independentvoter wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:31 PM:
" Shyla writes- "I'm not an animal activist but I know better than to judge a book by its cover".--Now this is a meaningful, well written statement. So does this mean that even if you witness uncared for, half starving animals in filthy conditions don't judge because they really are being care for? This is the typical ignorant outpouring I expected to follow up the gentleman's letter. Anybody else out there with anymore lame excuses for the antisocial behavior of not caring properly for their hunting dogs? Amuse me. "
Pauline wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:42 PM:
" In response to "Shyla 's comment on Mr. Oren's letter regarding neglected hunting dogs :
Any decent hunter keeps his dogs in good health, which includes providing some kind of shelter with room to stretch and move around, defecate away from the resting place, and food and water source. This is totally basic! The deviation from this norm is what the writer was referencing.
Lucky, your grandfather's dozens of hunting dogs got to run loose in your yard. "
Any decent hunter keeps his dogs in good health, which includes providing some kind of shelter with room to stretch and move around, defecate away from the resting place, and food and water source. This is totally basic! The deviation from this norm is what the writer was referencing.
Lucky, your grandfather's dozens of hunting dogs got to run loose in your yard. "
Shyla wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:21 PM:
" pauline, thank you for your political insight. my apologizes to this gentleman for the extra drama that has come from his letter but this is just my honest opinion. i'm fed up with people making other people's issues their business. he should have spoke to his neighbor before reporting anything. then if his neighbor finds out it was him he won't be po'd about it. "
Lorrinsapache wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:29 PM:
" Neglecting Hunting Dogs...
A true hunter by heart, will always care for his/her dogs. I grew up around hunting. As far back as I can remeber, we cared for our hunting dogs just like we would care for our horses, cats, or what ever else animals we had. They get vet checked, vaccinated, wormed.
A hunter with dogs that are not well cared for, might as well not hunt! Healthy and properly fed dogs run a better hunt then dogs that are not!
From a hunter to another hunter, Braddah take care of you dogs, you giving us a bad name, shame on you !!! "
A true hunter by heart, will always care for his/her dogs. I grew up around hunting. As far back as I can remeber, we cared for our hunting dogs just like we would care for our horses, cats, or what ever else animals we had. They get vet checked, vaccinated, wormed.
A hunter with dogs that are not well cared for, might as well not hunt! Healthy and properly fed dogs run a better hunt then dogs that are not!
From a hunter to another hunter, Braddah take care of you dogs, you giving us a bad name, shame on you !!! "
Shyla wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:44 PM:
" Maybe they should get the facts straight on this issue first. Just a thought: What if this person who has the dogs found the dogs lost from a hunting area? If a hunting dog is found and someone drops it off at the humane society I doubt it will pass doggy training and be up for adoption the next week. They would euthanize the animal once they've decided there is no more room. No good deed is left unpunished? "
independentvoter wrote on Jan 9, 2009 11:33 AM:
" Hate to keep on picking on Shyla, but she writes "i'm fed up with people making other people's issues their business. he should have spoke to his neighbor before reporting anything. then if his neighbor finds out it was him he won't be po'd about it. " so should have the dogs called the Humane Society to report their own neglect? and if the dog owner actually cared in the first place, he wouldnt be "po'd" if someone was concerned for HIS neglected dogs. There are hunters that take care of their dogs, I know quite a many, and then there are those who dont. Clearly this owner doesnt, forcing the concerned neighbor to take action. Why do you insist on making excuses for this bad apple? "
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
RSS
lawaibob wrote on Jan 7, 2009 6:38 AM:
Hey Jeff,
We all have our own sources of hope. Just because yours is prayer doesn't mean you have to go beating the rest of us over the head with a bible.. as for your wishes for divine providence, that's just crazy talk right there. "