HIYA! SAVANNAH HERE!!
I am back again with an important update about the struggle of the Kauai Community Cat Project (KCCP) and the Kauai island county government. I have to warn you that I kind’a have my neck furs all standing up ‘cuz I am in a bit of a snit over what’s going on in secrecy in Kauai.
I was once a stray—this could have been my fate!
In August I let you know about a potential ban being placed on all TNR (trap, neuter, return) efforts on the whole five hundred and fifty plus square miles of land on Kauai. You can read all about it here.
Yep, you got that right! This county council committee, the Feral Cat Ordinance Committee, is working hard, and in secret, to craft strategies which will map the whole island and declare it as “sensitive bird habitat”. The WHOLE island my pals, which leaves nowhere for community cat colonies to be managed and decreased over time through TNR.
Here is the latest update we received just late last week from Mr. Basil Scott, President of KCCP.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: From Kauai Community Cat Project
Sunshine Law Complaint Filed To Prevent County From Enacting Ordinance Resulting From Closed-Door Meetings!
“On September 20, 2016, Kauai Community Cat Project (KCCP) filed a Sunshine Law complaint to prevent the County from enacting an ordinance resulting from years of closed-door meetings. Council member Yukimura, who helped to define this process and has personally led it for the last year-and-a-half, has publicly defended the County’s closed-door approach.
Now here is the big deal that pushed KCCP to file a complaint against the county council’s Feral Cat Ordinance Committee. The state of Hawaii has what is called a “Sunshine Law”. The Sunshine Law is Hawaii’s open meetings law. It governs the manner in which all state and county boards must conduct their official business.
§92-1 Declaration of policy and intent. In a democracy, the people are vested with the ultimate decision-making power. Governmental agencies exist to aid the people in the formation and conduct of public policy. Opening up the governmental processes to public scrutiny and participation is the only viable and reasonable method of protecting the public’s interest. Therefore, the legislature declares that it is the policy of this State that the formation and conduct of public policy – the discussions, deliberations, decisions, and action of governmental agencies – shall be conducted as openly as possible.
I am asking all my readers who support TNR as the ONLY strategy for humane management of community cat over population to let your voices be heard. The community cats on the island of Kauai don’t have voices.
Voiceless
Those rescue groups who have been their advocates have been held out of meetings where the well being of this cat population is being determined.
Please, send emails to every committee member, especially the chair, Council member Joann Yukimura, asking them to behave democratically and openly.
Here are the names and email addresses for all members who are allowed to be active on the Feral Cat Ordinance Committee:
Feral Cat Ordinance Committee Members
Joann Yukimura jyukimura@kauai.gov
Penny Cistaro Cistaro@kauaihumane.org
Cali Crampton cali@kauaiforestbirds.org
Adam Griesemer adam_griesemer@fws.gov
Makaala Kaaumoana makaala@hawaiian.net
Bill Lucey kiscmgr@hawaii.edu
Hob Osterlund info@albatrosskauai.org
Brooke McFarland brooke.a.mcfarland@hawaii.gov
Andre Raine araine6@hawaii.edu
William Trugillo wtrugillo@kauai.gov
Mom L asked Brian’s Dad Mr. Terry to place a copy of Mom L’s own email on their server. Please feel free to take a look and use any portion of it that helps you send off your own email.
Letter to Kauai Committee
Further information:
A MUST READ! If you do not paw any other link in this blog post, paw this one! Kauai Endangered Sea Bird Recovery Project confirms: cats are NOT the greatest threat!
Most Important Causes of Threat to Kauai Bird Population
Hawaii’s Sunshine Law
Donate to Kauai Community Cat Project
Kauai County Restrictions February 2016
PAW PATS, SAVANNAH
UPDATE ON MOMMA KAT COMING SOON! She is still #mommakatssearch hoping for her forever home. Check out her new photo
Savannah's Paw Tracks 