Leash your pooch at beach — and clean up
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — The state has issued a warning to dog owners that animals on beaches must be kept on leashes and that any droppings must be picked up, lest the owners face a maximum $500 fine and a court appearance.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Unleashed animals on the beach are a common problem, and more so in the summer with more people visiting beaches, said an official with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
With his dog close by on a leash, a Kailua man is in compliance with the law. Violators of the leash law face a $500 fine.
"It's not a total prohibition," said Gary Moniz, chief of the Law Enforcement Division for DLNR. "It's for people to be responsible and clean up after their dogs, which a lot of people don't do."
Last month the department issued 14 citations to pet owners in Kailua alone for violations from Lanikai to the Marine Corps base. Each of them must go to court to take care of the violation, Moniz said.
According to Moniz, Kailua has the most offenders, but the problem is common to all beaches.
At Kailua Beach yesterday afternoon, John Muraki was taking his pit bull/husky puppy for a swim. He said he sees up to 10 dogs on the beach — at least half of them unleashed — when he goes there in the mornings.
Muraki, who uses a leash to walk his puppy, said all dogs should be on leashes.
"People say their dog is trained or won't attack," Muraki said. "But animals are unpredictable. All of a sudden if they sense something they don't like, they're going to be aggressive."
City lifeguard Capt. Kendall Rust said lifeguards will remind people that their dogs should be leashed on the beach.
If people don't comply, lifeguards will call the police, Rust said.
The city prohibits animals in most of its parks, on leashes or not, except for seeing-eye dogs and, with certain permits, occasions such as dog shows and training classes.
Thirty-four parks allow dogs but they must be leashed or controlled at all times and their droppings removed. Signs state whether dogs are allowed in any park.
Moniz said the numbers of complaints and citations have not escalated, but there is a continuing problem for beach users.
Dogs are running up to children, barking at people, defecating on the beaches, and attacking other dogs on leashes, he said.
"Most of the people know their dogs shouldn't be loose and they know they should be cleaning up after their dogs," he said. "It's a very simple issue."
Kailua Neighborhood Board chairwoman Faith Evans said that several years ago, the board complained to the Department of Land and Natural Resources about unleashed dogs on the beach.
No formal complaints have been lodged recently, but she said the problem persists.
"A lot of these people think their dogs should have the run of the beach," she said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
