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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 8, 2007

Bill would require reporting dog bites

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

WHAT'S NEXT?

The City Council's Public Health, Safety & Welfare Committee will hold a public hearing on the dog-bite bill at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the second-floor committee room at Honolulu Hale. Public testimony will be accepted on Bill 89.

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Recent dog attacks have prompted the City Council to consider a proposal to require that dog-bite injuries be reported to the Honolulu Police Department — similar to the way gunshot injuries are now handled.

City Councilman Charles Djou has introduced a bill that would require those who provide medical care for people or veterinarians who treat animals to report dog-bite incidents to police.

"I've gotten several phone calls from people complaining 'do something about these vicious dogs,' " Djou said. He said some of those calls followed the recent trial of a dog owner whose Rottweiler attacked two children in separate incidents on Kahala Beach.

Last month, Mariko Bereday was sentenced to five days in jail and the maximum fine allowed under the city's dangerous-dogs ordinance after her Rottweiler mauled two young children on separate occasions.

On May 12, 2005, prosecutors said, Bereday let her Rottweiler run loose on Kahala Beach, where it severely mauled a 2-year-old boy. Six days later, they said, her dog mauled a 4-year-old girl.

District Judge James Dannenberg called it one of the most horrific cases he's seen and said he was appalled by Bereday's state of denial. He sentenced Bereday to a $2,000 fine on each count, six months of probation as well as 300 hours of community service and five days in jail for the second count.

And Dannenberg ordered the dog killed, but the sentence was stayed pending appeal.

Djou said he has been talking with officials at the Hawaiian Humane Society about ways to prevent repeat attacks by dogs. He said they told him it's difficult to know which dogs are vicious without a requirement that bites be reported.

"They don't know where these vicious dogs are," Djou said. "Nobody tells them about it."

Society officials could not be reached to comment Friday afternoon.

Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, who now heads the council's public health, safety and welfare committee, said he thinks the dog-bite reporting may help.

"I wish we didn't have to pass this kind of ordinance, but people have gotten hurt," Dela Cruz said.

"Sometimes the same dog has hurt more than one animal or person."

He said the community priority has to be health and safety. "Unfortunately, it still seems to be a problem," he said.

Djou said requiring medical providers and veterinarians to report may help identify dangerous animals. He said the notification should help in the way that gunshot wounds are routinely reported to authorities.

"At least the police have been put on notice," Djou said. "They're made aware of it."

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.


Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the length of Mariko Bereday's probation. Her sentence included a fine and jail time but has been stayed pending appeal.