Posted on: Thursday, February 3, 2005
BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
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By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Q. Two large piles of dirt, rocks and broken asphalt were dumped in front of my house on Wilhelmina Rise and left there by the crews that had spent months digging up the road, replacing the sewer and water lines, and resurfacing the road. Now, the piles are growing grass. The final road itself is excellent. Could you help get the job completed?
A. It took only one call to the city Board of Water Supply to get action. Spokeswoman Wanda Yamane did some quick research and found out there had been some question as to who had left the debris, because several contractors were working in that area. But after checking on the piles left behind, the city arranged to haul them out right away, Yamane said. Since then, the board has sent you a written apology for the delay.
If you have a similar problem with something left behind by a city project, you can call the city's customer service office at 523-4381. If you think you are dealing with a Board of Water Supply project, Yamane suggested calling her office of community relations at 748-5041.
Q. I found a dog with at least 300 ticks on it near my Kane'ohe home. I called the Hawaiian Humane Society and explained that I would bathe the dog before they picked it up. They said not to, because they would dip the dog. They then returned the poor neglected animal to the owners without treatment. What evidence of neglect do they need before the society will act on behalf of the dog?
A. Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman Jacque Smith said the organization encourages people to do what you did in reporting potential cruelty and neglect.
She said the owner produced reports that the dog was getting regular veterinary care, and was treated for ticks. "The owner sprayed the dog for ticks in the presence of our investigator," she said.
Smith said there were no physical signs that the dog was starved or neglected.
"Our officers take every complaint seriously, thoroughly investigate ... and are more likely to educate pet owners to help them become more responsible as opposed to taking their animals from them," she said.
Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor with penalties of up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
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If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways.
Write to: The Bureaucracy Buster, The Honolulu Advertiser, 605 Kapi'olani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96813 E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message. Give us your name and daytime phone number in case we need more details.
