Maui reviews file on couple with 96 pets
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
WAILUKU, Maui — Evidence was turned over to prosecutors yesterday in a possible animal cruelty case against a couple who kept 96 dogs and cats at their Ha'iku home before the animals were impounded last month by the Maui Humane Society.
Advertiser library photo • Jan. 10, 2002
Animal Control supervisor Aimee Anderson said she turned over reports, photographs and other documents to the county prosecutor's office, which will determine whether charges should be brought against Tim and Jean Bermudez. Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Jean Bermudez now has two new dogs.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Miyahira said his office is reviewing the case file and will be following up on some of the reports.
Meanwhile, the Bermu-dezes apparently have two new dogs at home, Anderson said.
Since nothing can be done at this point to stop the couple from owning pets, Anderson said she plans to contact them about making sure the situation does not repeat itself.
Maria Bantilan, who lives across from the Bermudezes on West Lelehuna Place, said she has seen the two dogs.
"This is horrifying. It's like a never-ending thing," she said yesterday.
Bantilan and others had complained for years about the noise and smell from the Bermudez house. Officials said that because the dogs and the mess were confined indoors, there was no visible evidence of the problem from outside the house, and they could do nothing if the property owner refused them access.
Jean Bermudez could not be contacted yesterday for comment. Earlier she said she provided a loving home for the impounded animals, but agreed that things had gotten out of control after letting the dogs breed over a number of years.
Animal control officers went to the Ha'iku home Jan. 4 after Bermudez called for assistance because the dogs were fighting. One of the dogs was found dead inside the house after it had been mauled, and 81 dogs and 14 cats were taken to the Humane Society's animal shelter in Pu'unene.
All but seven of the dogs and one of the cats were euthanized because of limited shelter space and because some of them were sick. One of the surviving dogs has found a new home, five others remain up for adoption, and one is being kept in a holding area until its fate can be determined.
Anderson adopted the lone feline after nursing it back to health.
