Residents shouldn’t see much of a change as animal control duties across the island transition to a new Hawaii County agency this weekend.
The Hawaii Police Department on Saturday relinquished responsibility over animal control services to the newly formed Animal Control and Protection Agency under the Office of the Mayor. But a county official advised that, from the public’s perspective, nothing will be different.
“All the phone numbers will be the same,” said county Managing Director Lee Lord. “Starting Saturday morning at 12 a.m., animal control (transitioned) to the new agency, but from the general public side of things, people shouldn’t see much of a change at all.”
The county had previously contracted out animal control services for years until taking over operations in 2021 from the latest contractor, Hawaii Rainbow Rangers, “because conditions were so bad,” Lord said.
Since then, HPD has been managing animal control as a pilot program, but the County Council passed a bill earlier this year to hand over those duties to the new county agency.
Lord said about 30 staff positions out of a planned 44 have been created so far, but have not yet been filled. He said the current contractors who are assisting with animal control will have their contracts extended so that they can continue to work until full-time employees can be hired.
The administrator for the agency has not been publicly named, but Lord said an announcement should be made soon.
The same kennel facilities used by the current contractors also will continue to be used. Lord said facilities in both East and West Hawaii are being renovated to be better suited to contain dangerous animals.
Lord said that the ease of the transition is especially important this weekend considering that July 4 is the second-busiest day for animal control calls each year. He advised that because fireworks likely will be scaring dogs throughout the weekend and on the holiday, animal control calls to police dispatch will still be valid.
The primary animal control phone number remains (808) 327-3558. However, residents who encounter deceased animals on the roadway are advised to call either the Public Works Highways Division at (808) 961-8349 or the state Department of Transportation Highways Division at (808) 933-8866, depending on whether the road is a county or state road.
Anyone with an animal emergency or who has found an injured stray animal can also call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.