Regarding HIHS
Regarding HIHS
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Mr. Dennis Chaquette wrote an opinion concerning the operation of the Hawaii Island Humane Society (Tribune-Herald, Your Views). While I’m not writing to debate how the HIHS conducts its operation, I wonder where Mr. Chaquette acquired the data used to demean the HIHS.
Fourteen thousand euthanized animals per year for the past 30 years is an extraordinary number. That is 420,000 dead animals! He goes on to claim the HIHS has “one of the highest euthanasia rates in the world, about 74 percent.” Could this statistic come from the United Nations, given his “in the world” reference?
Mr. Chaquette attempts to compare the Big Island to Los Angeles. “Los Angeles, with a population of more than 10 million, euthanizes few pets. That’s right: A city of some 10 million people euthanizes fewer pets than an island of 180,000.”
Mr. Chaquette: How many fewer pets are euthanized in L.A. than on the Big Island? Is his comparison a per capita comparison or based on hard numbers? Also, what is his data source?
According to Wikipedia, which is quoting census.gov, the population of Los Angeles is 13,131,431 (metro area) as of July 1, 2014. The Big Island’s population is 194,190 as of 2014 (from census.gov).
Perhaps the reason for L.A.’s lower kill rate is there are a lot more people in L.A. to adopt pets than on the Big Island. It also might indicate L.A. residents do a better job controlling their pet population than Big Islanders.
Again, it all comes down to how many pets are euthanized in L.A. compared to the Big Island.
Finally, Mr. Chaquette writes, “The county does not care, and the police department … does not care about the euthanasia rate, which is why it continues.”
Please, note the police department already has its hands full with law enforcement. What might be more damning is perhaps Big Island people don’t care, since 14,000 euthanized animals per year, if correct, implies island residents are not controlling their pet or animal populations.
Arthur Warren
Keaau
Ignoring the cause
Americans need accurate reporting about the current violence between the Israelis and Palestinians. The information we get ignores the political reality needed to understand the Palestinian uprising. It is a response to decades of harsh occupation and repression, which is the foundation of Israeli policies. Palestinians are demanding freedom, justice and dignity.
According to Israeli activist Eran Efrati, Israelis are fighting for the quiet status quo of domination; “the Palestinians are fighting for their freedom.”
Our taxes, more than $3 billion per year, are paying to finance the Israeli occupation that fuels Palestinian rage and desperate actions. Americans should know what we’re paying for.
Bunny Smith
Hilo