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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
125 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
requesting state and county agencies to notify animal welfare organizations of deceased cats and dogs that are picked up along state and county roadways.
WHEREAS, pet cats and dogs are an integral part of many people's lives and it has been reported that approximately sixty percent of the State's households have at least one cat or dog; and
WHEREAS, the loss of a pet animal can be a sad experience for the pet's owner and other people who cared for the pet; and
WHEREAS, not knowing how a pet died or if a lost pet is still alive can be traumatic; and
WHEREAS, providing closure for pet owners and other people who cared for the pet is of deep importance; and
WHEREAS, animals, including pet dogs and cats, are often killed on state or county roadways and are picked up by the appropriate state or county agency, such as the refuse division or road maintenance, for disposal; and
WHEREAS, state and county agencies do not routinely scan deceased animals for an identifying microchip or take other steps to ascertain the animals' owners, such as inspecting a tag worn on the animal's collar for a contact phone number or address; and
WHEREAS, since January 1, 2022, dog and cat owners have been required to have a microchip implanted in their pet dog or cat, and to register the microchip number and the owner's contact information with a microchip registration company, pursuant to Act 5, Session Laws of Hawaii, Special Session of 2021; and
WHEREAS, durable microchip scanners cost approximately $350 and are readily available; and
WHEREAS, nonprofit and volunteer agencies that support pets have microchip scanners and are familiar with the process of looking up pet owners and their contact information, which is one of the main ways that lost pets, turned into pet shelters, are reunited with their owners; and
WHEREAS, there are active social media groups connecting lost pets with owners across the State; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that state and county agencies responsible for removing deceased dogs and cats from public roadways are requested to check for, scan, and record the microchip of the deceased dog or cat, along with the location found, descriptive information about the pet, and any contact phone number, name, or address shown on the animal's tag or collar; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these state and county agencies are requested to timely notify county animal services or animal service contractors of the deceased dog or cat, including the microchip number, if any, location found, descriptive information about the pet, and any contact phone number, name or address shown on the pet's tag or collar, and allow those entities to use their staff or volunteers to follow up with the registered pet owners; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Highways Division, the Mayor of each county, President of the Hawaiian Humane Society, Executive Director of the Kauai Humane Society, and Chief Executive Officer of the Maui Humane Society.
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OFFERED BY: |
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DOA; DOTHD; Animal Control; Refuse Division; Pets; Microchip; Humane Society