» Resources - County and State Laws.

Two County Ordinances Regarding Dogs

Many people are unaware of the current county laws regarding dogs on Kauai. These laws were created decades ago to protect the safety and welfare of people in our community from stray dogs. They also help to protect the safety and welfare of dogs.

Leash Law: Section 22, Article 2 of the Kauai County Code
 

Dogs must be under control of their owner by a leash (not more than eight feet long) when off the owner’s property. Exceptions to this article include seeing-eye dogs trained to assist blind persons, dogs used in an official law enforcement capacity and when dogs are used for hunting or obedience training, tracking or show as long as they are accompanied by their owner.

If dogs are found running loose or if used for hunting or training and no owner is obviously present to control them, they are considered stray and in violation of this law. Fines for this violation range from $50 to $200.

This law helps prevent injuries to both people and dogs. Loose dogs can cause serious traffic accidents, threats to children, loss of young livestock and public health concerns with waste droppings. In addition, they cause neighborhood nuisances when digging up trash or causing other dogs to bark who are properly confined in their yards.

Dogs will live longer healthier lives if kept under control by their owner at all times. They won’t be exposed to unknown poisons such as herbicides and insecticides or even from eating trash. Most importantly, they won’t be injured or killed by cars or even people if causing unwarranted threats or nuisances.

License Law: Section 22, Article 10 of the Kauai County Code

If you own a dog, it must be licensed if over three (3) months of age. Dog licenses are renewed every two years. For sterilized dogs, the license fee is $2 and for unsterilized dogs, the license fee is $6. Licensed hunters are required to pay $6 for the first hunting dog and $2 for each additional hunting dog.

This law was established to identify dogs as property so they could not be stolen. More importantly though, the license provides identification of where the dog lives so he or she can be safely returned home if accidentally lost.

Buy your dog licenses at the Humane Society or the Kauai Department of Motor Vehicles

Hawaii Passes its' first Animal Cruelty Law - Makes Animal Cruelty a felony offense

On May 1, 2011 the Hawaii Senate passed State Bill 1665, which increases the penalty for extreme cases of animal abuse. After the bill is signed by the governor, the intentional torture, mutilation or poisoning of a pet animal will be a felony offense.

Under the legislation, felony abuse is considered intentionally or knowingly torturing, mutilating or poisoning, or causing the torture, mutilation, or poisoning of any pet animal resulting in serious bodily injury or death of the pet animal.

Exempted are certain veterinary practices, scientific research, and animal cropping and docking procedures.

The felony provision not only applies to acts of cruelty toward cats and dogs, but also rabbits, birds and even domesticated pigs, which some native islanders keep as pets.