HPP dog attack?

[AaronM]

The dogs are the symptom, not the cause.  You can mask the symptom temporarily by killing the dogs, but the malady will re-occur until the cause is eliminated.

The owners are the cause, and unless their behavior is changed the problem will continue with the next dogs they get.

Both.  We have two issues to solve.   The dogs and their owner. 

Although we would need to have motivated law enforcement in order to solve either issue. 

As Tom mentioned, roaming packs of aggressive dogs are a reoccurring Puna problem.

[eightfingers2.0]

It was on the 5:30 news today. They need to publish the dog owners name.

[TomK]

Well, whether the three people were attacked because the dogs sensed fear or not, don't you think the victims should not be put in that position in the first place? This isn't the wild woods, it's a subdivision.

No, of course they shouldn't be put in that position in the first place. It's absurd that one can't have an expectation of safety from dog attack while walking down a subdivision road.  The dogs should be exterminated and the owner fined heavily. Even knowing the best strategies for avoiding such an attack may not prevent injury when there are multiple animals involved. 

Sounds like the "wild woods" maybe be safer, seeing that pigs have the good sense to avoid humans.

I agree although it's bad for the dogs, the owner bears much more responsibility. I posted my own experience of dog attacks several years ago here. Being fearful was not what drove the dog to attack in the first place because I didn't even know it was there, I was just getting out of my car on my own property thinking everything is just normal until a huge mastiff was in my face.

After a couple more attacks my neighbors and I called the police and when the officer showed up he refused to go anywhere near the dog telling us "it would eat me". That was from a well-armed cop. In the end, the dog was taken away and then just a day or so later was back in the owner's yard and once again unrestrained and of course, attacked people again. In the end, we were all walking around with baseball bats (in my case a cricket bat) just so we could defend ourselves. You shouldn't need to do that on a public road let alone your own property, but that is what we had to do.

Finally, the guy got jail time for unrelated crimes and the dog disappeared.

[sistersue]

Well, whether the three people were attacked because the dogs sensed fear or not, don't you think the victims should not be put in that position in the first place? This isn't the wild woods, it's a subdivision.

No, of course they shouldn't be put in that position in the first place. It's absurd that one can't have an expectation of safety from dog attack while walking down a subdivision road.  The dogs should be exterminated and the owner fined heavily. Even knowing the best strategies for avoiding such an attack may not prevent injury when there are multiple animals involved. 

Sounds like the "wild woods" maybe be safer, seeing that pigs have the good sense to avoid humans.

I agree although it's bad for the dogs, the owner bears much more responsibility. I posted my own experience of dog attacks several years ago here. Being fearful was not what drove the dog to attack in the first place because I didn't even know it was there, I was just getting out of my car on my own property thinking everything is just normal until a huge mastiff was in my face.

After a couple more attacks my neighbors and I called the police and when the officer showed up he refused to go anywhere near the dog telling us "it would eat me". That was from a well-armed cop. In the end, the dog was taken away and then just a day or so later was back in the owner's yard and once again unrestrained and of course, attacked people again. In the end, we were all walking around with baseball bats (in my case a cricket bat) just so we could defend ourselves. You shouldn't need to do that on a public road let alone your own property, but that is what we had to do.

Finally, the guy got jail time for unrelated crimes and the dog disappeared.

The way I've seen some people treat dogs around here over the past 32 years, it's no wonder some of the dogs attack people.  They're tied far out in the yards on chains, hungry, skinny and totally ignored.  This makes them crazy and wild.  It's not normal for a dog to be alone and ignored. It's called animal cruelty.  If a person doesn't have a fenced yard or a strong, long dog run and harness or want to give the dog attention, then they shouldn't have a dog. jmo

[ChunksterK]

Repeated efforts by politicians to pass ordinances and state laws to prohibit or closely regulate tethered dogs have not been passed. I think this is probably because the other politicians, obviously a majority, fear a backlash from those who see such practices as acceptable or even a part of the local culture. Remember Eileen Ohara's ill-fated anti-rooster ordinance? That actually ended her political career on the spot.

[kalakoa]

shouldn't need to do that on a public road

If the road is privately owned, wouldn't liability fall to the landowner? Can the police decline to enforce because it's not public property and they weren't invited by the landowner or their authorized agent?

[AaronM]

So considering that the roads in HPP are private, can injured parties sue the Association?

[TomK]

My understanding is that even though the roads are private, they are publicly accessible. And I know for a fact that during the episode with the dog owner next door to me that the police entered that property on more than one occasion without needing permission. I suspect it was because they thought a crime was being committed and doubt they would need the landowner's permission to enter the property.

I also can't imagine that association could be held liable. Someone could always sue and find out, but to me, it would be a stretch to blame the association for a resident's criminal behavior.

---

sistersue
[quote pid='331517' dateline='1629188430']
The way I've seen some people treat dogs around here over the past 32 years, it's no wonder some of the dogs attack people.  They're tied far out in the yards on chains, hungry, skinny and totally ignored.  This makes them crazy and wild.  It's not normal for a dog to be alone and ignored. It's called animal cruelty.  If a person doesn't have a fenced yard or a strong, long dog run and harness or want to give the dog attention, then they shouldn't have a dog. jmo
[/quote]

No argument from me, I completely agree. And my apologies for the formatting in this post - the PW editor has some quirks.

[AaronM]

Any update?

[Kiana]

So sad, so senseless, so irresponsible from a lazy dog owner who will now have this over them their whole life:

Community: 9-07-21 Elderly Puna Woman Succumbs to Dog Attack Injuries

Hawai‘i Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section – Area I

Lieutenant Rio S. Amon-Wilkins

Phone: (808) 961-2252

Report No.: 21-067388



Media Release

The 85-year-old Puna woman that was attacked by multiple dogs on Saturday, August 14, 2021, in Kea’au, succumbed to here injuries on Sunday, September 5. She was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center Intensive Care Unit, where she had been since the mid-August incident.

 

An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday, August 10, to determine the exact cause of death.

 

The mid-August incident occurred on 12th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park, after the victim went searching for her lost dog and multiple neighboring dogs attacked her. Her 89-year-old husband and an 88-year-old family member immediately went to her aid and were also attacked by the dogs.

 

The woman was bitten about her head, neck, and arms, and had multiple lacerations and puncture wounds. All three victims were transported to the Hilo Medical Center. The two men were treated for their injuries, and released from the hospital.

 

Following the incident, County of Hawai‘i Animal Control Officers took two dogs into custody.

 

This investigation remains continuing by the Hawai’i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section. Upon completion, it will be forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

 

Police ask anyone with information about this incident to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or the Area I Criminal Investigation Section Lieutenant, Rio Amon-Wilkins, at (808) 961-2252, or email Rio.Amon-Wilkins@hawaiicounty.gov.


Residents wishing to report vicious dogs are also encouraged to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.