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More than two years ago, a woman Brandi Pontin had to undergo eight surgeries after a neighbor’s dog jumped her fence, fought with her dog then bit off the tip of her finger. Her husband started pushing to strengthen Honolulu’s dog ordinance after struggling to get justice for her dog bite attack.
Councilmen Gary Okino and Donovan Dela Cruz worked with Pontin and others on a bill that the City Council’s Public Safety Committee takes a final look at today. According to committee chairman Okino, current dog bite penalties fail to discourage owners of dangerous dogs because they are not stiff enough. In addition, both Okino and Dela Cruz believe the actual number of dog bite attacks is much higher than reported cases, affecting seniors, women, children and other victims.
The bill would increase the minimum fine for dog owners from $50 to $500, with a maximum fine remaining at $2,000. Either probation of up to six months or jail time up to 30 days would be mandated, which would ensure a conviction. As the dog bite laws stand now, probation or jail are options and defendants are able to have the incident wiped from their records.
Restitution is currently an option, and the bill would require restitution if a victim has suffered financial loss or incurred medical expenses. Dog owners would be required to pay fees related to housing the dog if the animal is seized or impounded, under the bill, as well as require their dog remain on a 4-foot leash when outside of the owner’s property.
If the committee passed the dog bite bill it will move on to the Council for approval. According to the Hawaiian Humane Society, the primary investigating agency in dangerous dog cases since the ordinance went into effect on July 1, 2001, 25 citations were issued under the law last year to 19 defendants. The citations resulted in eight people being sentenced to an average $200 fine.