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+--- Thread: Pet Alert (/showthread.php?tid=418)
Pet Alert - huligirl - 05-15-2006
While our Veterinarian was finalizing our quarantine package for our kitty, she asked that we get a code.
One call to Animal Quarantine and all our planning is down the drain. Our cat is no longer welcomed into the state, was removed from the accepted list, no notice or warning. Go figure.
I have e-mail the department and asked for direction as to how this decision was made and how one is to appeal this and in 8 days have received no response. Oh well go figure.
subject
If any one has access to the Konaweb you might post the note that follows. It is a petition to restore the domestic Bengal cat to the accepted breed code list with the DOAg.
Seems someone with a hybrid Savannah (a cross between a Serval 30-40lb large African cat with a domestic cat, there is a Serval in the Honolulu zoo!), tried to bring his cat into Hawaii and was refused at the quarantine department. Well duh he didn't do his homework, 1. that breed isn't on the accepted breeds list, 2. is a breed that isn't nationally or internationally recognized. On the threat of a lawsuit, the domestic Bengal cat was removed from the approved breeds list to assuage the gentleman's hurt feelings and avert a lawsuit, (a domestic Bengal cat, a hybrid of the Asian Leopard Cat 7 - 12 lbs and domestic cat, recognized nationally and internationally), Studied at University level due to it's natural immunity to feline leukemia.
Dear Mr. ,
The exclusion of the domestic Bengal cat by the Department of Land and Resources from the allowed Breed Code List AQS-66 must be an oversight! The domestic Bengal is no relation to the Big Wild Cats.
Although the domestic Bengal house cat looks spotted and stripped like a wild Bengal or Leopard you might see in a zoo, and are named for their look, they are no more a threat to the state of Hawaii than a Siamese, or a Persian cat. The domestic Bengals are domestic pets not exotics belonging in a zoo.
Please return this Bengal to the list of accepted pets into the state of Hawaii.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________
Signed Town Dated
Edited by - huligirl on 05/15/2006 10:13:28
RE: Pet Alert - pam jones - 05-15-2006
Another fine example of burreaucracy gone awry! Those are beautiful cats that any cat lover would be proud to have in their home. If anyone has Ms. Lingle's personal email, maybe they could forward her some info. in order to expedite this process. Huligirl you would be so sorely missed if you and your kittys could not come here, I will certainly do what I can and keep this in my prayers.
A hui hou,
Pammy
RE: Pet Alert - bystander - 05-15-2006
I suspect the authorities are afraid that such wild/domestic cat hybrids could contribute to the feral cat problem here in Hawaii. The hunting instincts in such animals could allow them to be self sufficient in the wild and would probably have an impact on endangered native birds if the population of these cats increases.
RE: Pet Alert - Carey - 05-15-2006
Huli girl, this may be a weird suggestion, and totally unimformed, but what about coding your cat as a tabby? Here's why: We had a cat adopt us 6 weeks ago. We took it to a vet in Hilo (it was pregnant & very hungry, and we wanted to make sure everything was taken care of). The vet assistant wrote that she was a tabby mix...
I looked at the pictures of the Bengals on the website Buzz gave. This stray has the same face markings & tail, her belly is spotted, but her sides are more stripeity than blotchy. But the same colors...I doubt that anyone in ag would know the difference unless you point out that your cat is a bengal (unless this has to do with breeding papers....)
All I know is that we have one of the best cat pets we have ever had,(acts more like a cross between a cat & dog) even has learned her (new?) name & comes when called!
Aloha, Carey
RE: Pet Alert - huligirl - 05-16-2006
Hi Cary,
Yes the bengal breed is like a dog in a cat's body, following, answering to their name, curious about all that you do including bathing, lol. You are very correct they are domesticated, not EXOTIC like a zoo animal and wild, ours are neutered, and they are well fed and don't eat off the land! No one would be able to tell them apart from any other household cat in appearance. But you see when the paperwork was done 10 months ago they were listed as an accepted breed on the Ag site, and now they are delisted. So they are tagged, labled, known and now unacceptable.
Of course they are relatively expensive (at least for us) and most buyers protect their investments and most bengals are indoor animals and well secured. That being said they weigh 7 to 12 lbs. Our Calico weighs 12! My pets are nothing like feral cats.
Here is a lovely web site if you have some computer power it takes a bit of power but has music and lovely photos are definately worth the wait
www.awagatibengals.com
another site from the Honolulu Zoo shows a Serval cat 30-40 lbs that is being hybred currently and we hear one like this was the cause of the anguish we face, someone tried to bring it into the state as a domestic pet and the aftermath is that our bengal is not welcomed now.
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/serval.htm
Thanks for your concern and suggestions here! I'm so happy your kitty is so well loved in your family. Yes it sounds like a bengal or a tabby with running to it's name. Neat huh!
I do know people even friends think we are cat nuts, but hey, believe it or not all people are not blessed with human children!
Edited by - huligirl on 05/16/2006 04:25:56
RE: Pet Alert - huligirl - 05-16-2006
Hey Buzz,
I checked out that site also and it does show how beautiful the domestic Bengal breed and the Savannah are. The Savannah are a very new cross breed and I think they are lovely, although I've never been around them personally.
You know people are picking the sex and eye color of their babies now due to modern medical advances. Ick for me but say hey we all are hybrids of some type or another right. I'm 1/4 Swedish 1/8 Cherokee and the rest Heinz 57 lol!
The Savannah are not a recognized breed nationally or internationally for that matter.
Someone tried to game/skirt the system there and didn't do their quarantine homework or they would have seen the Savannah isn't and wasn't, and will in no time soon be an accepted breed nationally, internationally and locally. They made such a fuss at being found out that the Bengal breed was removed from the accepted list where it was listed/accepted since 1991 I believe.
Oh well this is life, the timing is just not good for us, and we're probably a minority so don't count in the great scheme of things. We working on it and also looking into property elsewhere.
RE: Pet Alert - huligirl - 05-16-2006
Talk about creative, that was some story. And Buzz I already thought of the Clairol but you sure added some fun dimension to my vision! Thanks.
Well I just want to thank some friends in Volcano, Keaau, and Kona for helping to collect signatures for petitions being mailed to the ag department. I could do it over here except it is a state matter and needs local residents to make these pleas. A big thanks all!
Mahalo nui loa
RE: Pet Alert - mella l - 05-18-2006
Try writing to Helene Hayes Pahoa District 4 Representative, that might get the ball rolling on this. Good luck.
mella l
RE: Pet Alert - bystander - 05-18-2006
All or you posting suggestions to circumvent the laws here just don't get it. Hawaii has the most endangered species in the world. Bringing in a wild/domestic hybrid cat would only exacerbate the situation. They may seem draconian to you people from the mainland but the laws are there for a very good reason.
RE: Pet Alert - huligirl - 05-18-2006
I certainly agree with the laws of protecting
all endangered species be they in Hawaii or on the Alaskan tundra.
Excuse me but this domestic house pet, unfortunately named a Bengal cat, was accepted in Hawaii beginning in 1991 and were just recently removed from the accepted breeds list.
If the removal had any educated reasoning behind it that would be fine by me. It was an arbitrary move in my opinion designed to avoid another problem and ended up creating a bunch more in my opinion.
As far as circumventing the laws if I intended on doing anything like that I would hardly be posting it here!
Furthermore it is all just conversation, creative supposing and community stimulation, exchanging ideas and just having some plain old fun as far as I can see.
Aloha nui loa from a flat footed mainlander!
"All or you posting suggestions to circumvent the laws here just don't get it. Hawaii has the most endangered species in the world. Bringing in a wild/domestic hybrid cat would only exacerbate the situation. They may seem draconian to """you people from the mainland""" but the laws are there for a very good reason".