Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023

Kōlea Birds are Back in Kaʻū & Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Kōlea, the Pacific golden-plover, are returning to Ka'u and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park after spending the summer in Alaska and Siberia. The Park report: "Kōlea are less than a foot long and you’ll most likely seem them in their golden mottled  feathers. Next spring they will ready themselves for the long journey back to the north. Check out the kōlea and many different birds you may observe along Mauna Loa Road: https://www.nps.gov/im/pacn/havo-mauna-loa-road.htm." NPS Photo

ORGANIZED ILLEGAL DOG FIGHTS, A MAN KILLED BY LOOSE DOGS, AND NEED FOR ANIMAL CONTROL were some hot topics brought up by Ocean View residents at Friday's meeting co-hosted by county Office of Research & Development Director Douglass Shipman Adams and County Council member Michelle Galimba. The gathering was held at Ocean View Community Center.
    Concerning the issues raised by some of the 30 people in attendance, the County Council member reported on the selection of Matthew Runnells from Florida for Administrator of the new Animal Control & Protection Agency for County of Hawaiʻi. Galimba said that Runnells is a veteran and has experience working with Disney in Orlando. She said that she plans to work with the county for an animal control facility in Kaʻū with one or two animal control officers. She explained that establishing a Kaʻū facility with staff would shorten response time. Right now, animal control officers have to drive from Kona or Hilo to attend to animal-related emergencies in Kaʻū. Galimba noted that Acting Animal Control chief Regina Serrano will train the new Animal Control Administrator.
    Ocean View resident Paulette Frerichs urged Galimba to ask the county for animal control officers to be on duty around the clock in Kaʻū.

Ocean View residents brought their issues to the county meeting on Friday. Photo by Annie Bosted

    Frerichs also reported seeing truckloads of canines being hauled to Ocean View for dog fights. She said dog fights are associated with illegal activities, including gambling. She said gunshots at the dog fights terrorize the neighbors. Frerichs said many people also perceive dog fights as cruel and responsible for the loss of family pets.
    Long time Ocean View resident Richard Rogers said, "They get any dogs they can, including family pets, to use as bait dogs." Frerichs said she appealed to the Hawai'i Police Department to intervene to stop the dog fights and claimed that police said they cannot enter private property without a search warrant. "We need somebody in government to back us up," added Frerichs.
    Galimba said, "I am obsessed with dog safety and welfare. I want something that will work in the long term." However, Galimba acknowledged that ending organized dog fights would not be the responsibility of an animal control officer.
    Residents also reported on a recent spate of dog attacks in Ocean View, one of them fatal to a man walking in his neighborhood. Frerichs pointed out that the dogs that attacked and killed the man in his 70s were not feral, but owned by a couple with a home in Ocean View. The dogs were given over to authorities.