Posted on: Saturday, June 16, 2001

Counties may enact laws for protection against dogs

Associated Press

A new state law allows the four counties to create their own ordinances against vicious dogs.

Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the bill into law just days after an 18-month-old boy was attacked and killed by a pit bull on the Big Island.

Sen. Avery Chumbley said the new law allows the counties to adopt ordinances to individuallydeal with dog attacks "like what happened on the Big Island." The Maui Democrat was one of three legislators who introduced the bill.

The new law takes effect June 30. It clarifies existing state law with which government authorities can control vicious dogs. It enables each county to enforce its own laws against people who own, harbor or keep a dog that has injured, maimed or killed another animal or person.

The Honolulu city government has an ordinance on dangerous dogs that takes effect July 1. Hawai'i and Maui counties have similar laws.

Tyran Moniz-Hilderbrand and his mother, Luana Moniz, 24, were attacked by a pit bull last Saturday evening at their home in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Puna. The child died in the attack and the mother is reported in stable condition at Hilo Medical Center.