HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

84

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO COLLABORATIVELY WORK WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND ESTABLISH OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS IN METROPOLITAN HONOLULU.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the national average for households owning at least one dog is 36.5 percent; however, pet ownership on Oahu is much higher, with at least 60 percent of households owning at least one dog or cat; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's dog owners represent over one third of the population and pet owners in Hawaii spend over $90,000,000 a year on pet-related expenses such as food, supplies, veterinarians, and groomers and make a large contribution to Hawaii's tax base; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the Honolulu metropolitan area, only 5 off-leash dog parks exist to serve 143,000 dog owners; and

 

     WHEREAS, dog parks improve the quality of life for dog owners as well as for their dogs, promote a healthy lifestyle for people and pets, add to our sense of community, and help to promote responsible dog ownership; and

 

     WHEREAS, dogs who do not have outlets for their physical and mental energy may become nuisance barkers, escape artists, or develop other destructive behaviors; and

 

     WHEREAS, dogs have an inherent need for regular exercise and socialization and the single most important factor in making dogs friendly and well-behaved is frequent interaction with both people and other dogs; and

     WHEREAS, as leash laws continue to become increasingly restrictive, residents see dog parks as a way to let dogs run free without penalty to pet owners or damage to private property; and

 

WHEREAS, off-leash dog parks, whether privately or publicly owned, are maintained by volunteers and require users to pick up after their dogs so that all park users can enjoy a clean and safe environment; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hui Ilio Hawaii has been actively supporting local dog park groups and aiding in the search for suitable places to establish off-leash dog parks in their respective communities; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu are encouraged to collaboratively work with community stakeholders to identify and establish off-leash dog parks within urban areas of metropolitan Honolulu; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Dog Parks; Urban Honolulu