Police set pet-noise rules

By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Honolulu Police Department started taking all animal noise complaints Thursday, but an added procedure requires the caller to meet the police officer to identify the offending animal before a report can be filed.

If the caller does not want to meet the officer, officers "won't respond," unless suspected criminal activity is causing the animal to make noise, HPD Assistant Chief Paul Putzulu said.

"Let's say there is a dog barking, and you know you saw some people around the house — then we'll respond. But, if the caller says, 'No, the dog is always barking at this time,' " then the caller will be asked to meet the officer, Putzulu said.

Residents with complaints about a barking dog or crowing rooster need to call 911.

Putzulu said callers who do not want to meet officers, but want to do something about the problem should call the Mediation Center of the Pacific, which allows neighbors to talk about the problem in a controlled environment.

The new procedure was created after the police department reviewed its old procedures and the way officers used to respond to animal complaints, Putzulu said.

In the past, both the Hawaiian Humane Society and the police department responded to complaints.

Reach Shayna Coleon at scoleon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8004.