Hawai'i Kai home with 27 dogs investigated
By Zenaida Serrano Espanol and Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writers
A small kitchen fire at a Hawai'i Kai condominium led to what authorities suspect is a "puppy mill," where 27 dogs and a cat were discovered inside cages and roaming freely.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
The three-bedroom unit reeked of animal waste and was cluttered with litter.
Firefighters responding to a Kawaihae Street fire in Hawai'i Kai found some dogs in cages and others roaming freely in the condominium.
The Hawaiian Humane Society opened an investigation of possible animal cruelty. The investigator handling the case called it an "unbelievable" discovery.
"This is the worst situation that I have seen for a home and the amount of animals that are kept indoors," said Bryan Windisch, Humane Society manager of field services. The fire was minor, and none of the animals appeared to be injured.
Police, the Humane Society and Honolulu Fire Department were still trying to locate the owner last night.
But the owner told The Advertiser that accusations that she was operating a "puppy mill" are "absolutely ridiculous." The woman, who did not want her name used because she feared retribution, said she was boarding the dogs and had them for about two weeks.
She said she agreed to take the animals in on an emergency basis for a friend who operates a kennel. All of the dogs, except for her own, were expected to be gone within a week, she said.
"I had my own dogs plus a relative's dog and other people's dogs that were being boarded as a temporary boarding situation to another kennel that was in some problems because of health problems of the proprietor," she said.
When firefighters arrived at the Villa Marina complex shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, they found the puppies, among them a poodle, miniature pinscher, Pomeranian, Chihuahua and several terrier mixes. The owner was not home at the time of the fire.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Puppy mill" is a term that describes the breeding of dogs without a permit and under poor living conditions. Such situations sometimes involve sick puppies not treated by vets, Windisch said.
A Hawaiian Humane Society animal control officer removes one of the dogs from the three-bedroom unit at the Villa Marina.
"When you find so many different breeds, and them being so young, it looks to me as though this could be a mill situation," he said.
The woman said the dogs were well-fed, in good health and were well cared for. She said she agreed to take care of several puppies because most kennels do not accept puppies that young.
She said things got out of control when she had to rush to a Neighbor Island to care for a relative who was having surgery. She said her roommate agreed to care for the animals while she was gone for about a week, but he apparently neglected his duties.
"My roommate, who had said he would take care of dogs, doesn't do it as thorough as me. (He) put clean papers on top of the dirty papers. That's the only situation where there could have been any dirt," she said. "The cleaning might not have been perfect while I was away, but I can't blame anybody for that. There was an emergency and that's what happened."
She said many of the dogs' owners have been inquiring about the health of their pets. She said she was angry with Humane Society officials because they refused to tell her how the dogs were doing last night.
"If they were hurt at all it was because of the fire," she said. She said she will attempt to retrieve the dogs today.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
City property tax records show the townhouse is owned by a Scott Kagan, who lists a Boca Raton, Fla., address.
Dr. Carlene Takushi of the Hawaiian Humane Society checks on the condition of one of the dogs rescued from the fire in Hawai'i Kai.
Windisch said that the case may be linked to an investigation that the Humane Society has been working on for the past several months, but he would not disclose details.
Some neighbors said they were surprised by the discovery.
"I didn't hear them barking, never heard them crying and never really smelled anything," said nearby resident Ruth Zeitlin. "Of course they're right next to (a trash bin)."
Villa Marina resident Anna Womack said she didn't know about the situation. "I don't have any pets and I'm not a rights activist, but I feel bad for the dogs," she said.
The fire caused about $300 in minor smoke damage, Capt. Kenison Tejada said.
As firefighters searched the home, "they kept finding animals," Tejada said. The department notified the Hawaiian Humane Society, which arrived at about 12:30 p.m.
"None of (the dogs) appear to be in any type of danger at this point and time," said Dr. Carlene Takushi, a veterinarian for the society who gave the animals an initial examination at the condominium. Takushi said the dogs were taken to the Humane Society to be examined further.
Windisch said "puppy mill" cases usually involve violations of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor crime with possible penalties of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine, Windisch said.
Humane Society officials were waiting for a search warrant last night to take photographs of the property and gather evidence to put together a possible animal cruelty case, Windisch said. The society plans to issue a citation, which will go the prosecutor's office, who can bring about charges on the owner, he said.
