Act now
Act now
We want to praise our Ka‘u Rep. Dr. Richard Creagan and Kona Sen. Dr. Josh Green for their letter and support insisting the state Department of Health set up a mobile team of health specialists to go to homes and communities to collect blood samples and do general assessments.
There are way too many people who cannot afford or have the time to set up a medical appointment, which usually takes three to five weeks. If they get infected, why go to the doctor and pay for that and lab work when there is absolutely nothing they can do to help alleviate the symptoms?
They just will not go. It will go underground. Is this what we want for our island and state — endemic dengue?
Because if you do not stop this on the Big Island, inevitably it will get to the others. Tourists island-hop, and if they come here and then go to other isles, it will be spread. And kamaaina travel to visit family on other isles.
Remember: Many cases of dengue have no or very mild symptoms. So what? This is too urgent an issue to confuse with politics. Whose responsibility is it to do this and at what cost?
In the long run, it will cost the state of Hawaii big time when people choose not to visit because they might catch dengue after it has become endemic.
Please act now and set up these mobile clinics. It is needed now! Call your governor, 808-586-0034, and mayor, 961-8211, and tell them you want some action taken. NOW!
Helen Behrmann
Naalehu
PETA’s view
Regarding “Humane Society grilled about kill rate” (Tribune-Herald, Nov. 18): The solution to Hawaii’s cat and dog overpopulation crisis, and the resulting need for euthanasia, isn’t so difficult — it’s prevention.
Shelters could hand out animals like candy all day long to anyone who will take them (and unfortunately, some shelters do), but there always will be a steady stream of homeless animals unless the root of the problem — animal births — is addressed. Spaying and neutering are the keys.
There is no shortage of homeless animals on the mainland either, and an increasing number of them are ending up in sham “rescues,” where animals are hoarded in criminally cruel conditions. Many animals have been handed over to these operations by shelters that are under intense pressure to reduce their euthanasia rates at any cost.
People who want to help homeless animals should support open-admission shelters (those that, unlike “no-kill” shelters, never turn animals away when they run out of room) that closely screen all adopters. Sending animals off to unknown “rescues” that might be operating illegally won’t stop the overpopulation crisis and only will ensure more animals suffer.
If we want to end animal homelessness and euthanasia, spaying and neutering must be our focus.
Visit www.PETA.org to learn more.
Teresa Chagrin
Animal care and control specialist,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals