HAWAII -- Marco Anich posted on Facebook March 1, 2018 · Irvine, CA ·
Lost one of my dearest little brothers last night. Duke, you were a blessing to us on this earth, though our time together was short it was amazing and you brightened our hearts with every bark, wag, and (occasional) bite. My heart is sad, but I’m happy to know you are free, and that your spirit is chasing your favorite ball up there wherever you are. Until we meet again, brother. love you always. 🙏 ❤️🌅
RIP little Duke
Marco Anich is with QueenLei Flower.
March 14 at 6:50pm · Kailua, HI ·
Blessed to have gone back home last week and spend time with the folks, a few friends, and of course my favorite Pughuahua, Li’i. Although it wasn’t on the best of terms (we are still mourning the loss of our beloved Chihuahua Duke who was killed by a pit bull on Ilimano Street in Kailua), seeing family and living Hawaii for a bit is always a blessing. Love you guys! Duke, aloha braddah..until we meet again soon! ❤️
WASHINGTON DC -- Linda Moore @lindalumoore posted on Twitter
Dec 12 Justice for Koda - Sign the Petition! via @Change
Linda Kaye @Pupsmom3418 posted on Twitter December 12, 2017
Replying to @lindalumoore @Change
I just signed your petition. I am so sorry for you and your darling Koda.
My little poodle Lucky was attacked by a pit bull, 7 months old, during a class at Petsmart. The owner was able to grab his dog’s jaws from around Lucky’s neck and end the attack. A 7 month old pit bull!
HAWAII -- On January 26th, 2017, I was blessed with the most beautiful Pomeranian puppy for my birthday. I named him Koda Bear. The moment I got him was like a dream. I have always wanted a Pomeranian puppy, and when I got Koda I knew I had gotten the perfect one. He was the light of my life, the one thing I looked forward to, he was my best friend. We did everything together. I pushed myself to work hard just so I would be able to give him all the toys and Cesar’s filet mignons he wanted.
Koda was loved unconditionally by my entire family, my friends and anyone that was able to meet him. He had a personality of his own kind, to me all he was missing was a voice and he would've been no less then you or I both. So today I need to be his voice!
November 1, 2017 at approximately 3:30 PM. My grandmother and my littlest sister took Koda on a play date to the new Kamuela park (Anuenue playground). As my sister played in the park, my grandmother and Koda sat at the picnic table. Both minding their own business, Koda was on a leash sitting next to her on the bench enjoying the sun.
With absolutely no warning, two very large, and very hungry, loose pit bulls snuck up on them and attacked my Koda! Pulling him in different directions the two dogs punctured his little heart and shredded his lungs, instantly killing him!
During the attack, my grandmother did everything in her power to get the dogs off of him. Kicking them and yelling in a desperate state of panic, she was also bitten by one of the pit bulls. With it all happening so quickly she managed to see her surroundings looking for help. People then came running, surrounded them, VIDEOING THIS INCIDENT! One man recognized my grandmother and came to her rescue, fought the dogs off of Koda and managed to tie the two dogs to a fence.
Immediately rushing Koda to the nearest vet, where he was declared as dead. During that time, another man stayed with the two dogs at the park and called the Waimea humane Society. They were both picked up and taken to the shelter.
Later that evening a young man and his daughter came driving up my street looking for his dogs. I was broken! After telling him what his two dogs have done and letting him know that they were at the Humane Society. He showed no remorse and no sympathy for what we just went through. His response was that he will take full responsibility for what his dogs have done.
In the same breath, with arrogance and cockiness, he mentioned that this is not the first time his dogs have gotten loose and killed another animal. He says that he knows what’s coming, he’ll pay the fines it’s not a big deal dogs will be dogs.
The very next day I got a call from the Waimea Humane Society, it was a courtesy call to let me know that he was able to pick up his dogs and take them home. They have released these dogs to him on multiple occasions! All he gets is fines! These dogs have killed animals before and now Injured my 74-year-old grandmother and killed my Koda! Next time it will be someone’s child or it could even be you!
I am asking for the public and anyone who has ever loved their pet like family. To sign this petition. It is not right that someone like him is allowed to be a pet owner. It is not right to keep releasing these vicious dogs back into his irresponsible care! This petition is to serve justice to those victims that have been attacked by these two dogs before. These dogs need to be humanely put down and the pet owner should not be allowed to have any more dogs.
Change Petition: Justice for Koda
Petitioning the state of Hawaii
Created by Rosie Lindsey
HAWAII -- My friend Richard Smith's daughter, Renee is a traveling nurse who is currently working in Hawaii.
She was attacked yesterday by a pit bull and is in the hospital with severe lacerations and bites. She has over 50 stitches from this brutal attack.
I am starting this account to raise money for Richard so that he can take off from his job and fly there to be with her. Not only is the flight almost $1500, but he would also need money once he is there to get back and forth from the hospital, but he would be missing work. Like most of us, he can't afford to miss a day, let alone a week.
If you know Richard, he is always there to help his family,friends and church, never expecting anything in return. Let's all show him the same generosity and get him to his daughter!!
Please donate whatever you feel led to give and know that no amount is too small.
Thank you in advance for your donations and your prayers.
GoFundMe: Vicious dog attack!
Created May 25, 2017 by Debby Cunningham Oliverio
Medical
SALEM, WV
HAWAII -- A state judge sentenced Kahaluu dog breeder James Montgomery to nine months in jail this morning for torturing one of his animals.
The nine-month jail term is part of a four-year probation sentence Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura handed Montgomery for first-degree animal cruelty.
The maximum sentence she could have imposed for the class C felony is five years in prison - BUT SHE CHOSE NOT TO.
The reason five years in prison was the' maximum' sentence she could have given him is because they DROPPED 33 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY in exchange for Montgomery, 69, pleading "no contest" to ONE COUNT. They didn't even require him to plead guilty. No contest means he refused to plead guilty but accepted that the evidence they had was enough to convict him. No bargains or plea deals should be given if you won't admit what you did!
Shame: Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura
Don't cheer that he was given 9 months (or less) in the county jail. Be disgusted that they threw this case away. He has been abusing dogs for more than 10 years. He pleaded GUILTY TO 55 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY ten years ago!!! Thirty-three dogs were taken from him this time around... prosecution is no deterrent for people like him. As soon as he's done with his probation, he'll be right back to running a puppy mill. After all, the state of Hawaii has let him do it for more than 10 years.
The felony charge stems from the discovery in May last year of a severely malnourished puppy in a garbage bin outside Montgomery’s Mahakea Road home.
HAWAII -- The Hawaiian Humane Society confirmed Friday morning that the two pit bulls involved in an attack in Lanikai Monday are now in their custody.
The owners hung a sign out last night saying the dogs were sent to the Humane Society.
The Humane Society told Island news Thursday it did not pick up the dogs.
This morning it confirmed that the dogs were brought in by the owners and that the arrangement was temporary until they could find a kennel to take the pit bulls until the case is brought to trial.
In the video clip, it said the owners have also made it clear to Animal Control that THEY WANT THE VICIOUS PIT BULLS RETURNED TO THEM.
* * * * * * * *
"I just had time to pull on the leash when the scuffle happened. I turned and he had my 4 pound Maltese in his mouth, going like this," recounted Lanikai resident Alesia Barnes.
It's been three days since the attack.
Alesia Barnes said she and her husband were walking their little dogs in their neighborhood when two pit bulls attacked them.
"One takes one end, and the other pit bull takes Jenny on one end, and they are tearing her apart," said Barnes.
In the video clip, she said her husband suffered what they thought at the time was a heart attack and collapsed and had to be taken to the emergency room himself. Not only did she have to endure the screaming and squealing of her beloved little dogs being torn apart by two Pit Bulls, she also had to deal with her husband collapsing on the ground and possibly dying right in front of her - or the Pit Bulls attacking him as well.
Now, other families are coming forward.
Sam Arnstein was 16-years-old, his dog Jackson, just 6 months old.
They had a brush with the pit bulls who were being walked past their home last year.
Arnstein recalled the dog's owner was being dragged by the dogs across the street, as they zeroed in on his puppy.
"The dog launched at him and bit him on his snout and I heard a squeal from my dog and then the other dog bit him at his back and starts thrashing him like a shark," said Arnstein.
Lenny Gonzales said something similar happened to his poi dog.
A neighbor was taking 16-year-old Nani Girl out for a walk when she was attacked.
"One dog got my dog in the neck, according to my neighbor. Another got her by the hip, and they were just were pulling at her, and eventually they let her go," recalled Lenny Gonzales.
Gonzales he would see the owner walking the dogs, but was surprised he didn’t muzzle them even after the incident.
Gonzales said he was paid $300 for his vet bills.
The Arstein family wasn’t so lucky.
Sam, who suffered bites to his hand said the medical bills for he and his pup, were $2,000.
Island News was told even the mail carrier has some problems with the dogs. A neighbor told us he wasn’t comfortable delivering packages to the Alapapa Drive home.
"The mailman was doing his rounds and he told me what he told the supervisor," said Christine Grisell.
Grisell witnessed an attack. She's an experienced dog handler, operating a kennel for 50 years on the mainland.
"It's not an isolated incident. They are dangerous dogs. Something needs to be done, he obviously can't control them," said Grisell.
Alesia Barnes found that out the hard way, Monday night.
"He couldn’t get the dogs off. My husband is having what we thought was a heart attack. Next thing I know, he is on the ground," recalled Barnes.
Police have opened up a dangerous dog case.
Earlier in the afternoon, Humane Society stopped by briefly at their residence at 1436 Aalapapa Drive, but didn’t remove the dogs.
Calls to the Pit Bulls’ owner Bob Kishi weren’t returned.
Later in the evening, a sign was posted on his fence saying the dogs were gone to the Humane Society.
But that could not be verified. Humane Society Spokeswoman Suzy Tam said it did not pick up the dogs.
HAWAII -- Tension in Lanikai after two big dogs tore apart two little dogs during an evening walk.
The owners of the little dogs believe there should be tougher laws for neighbors who can't keep their pets in line.
Robert Barnes said he and his wife were walking their three small dogs along Aalapapa Drive around 7:30 p.m. Monday when the two dogs escaped from a home.
"Before I could even move, this dog had my dog, it's head in its mouth and swinging it around and I'm screaming, ‘Help! Help! Help! Help!’ Then the next thing you know I see a second dog coming at us and it grabs the hind quarters of my dog and the two of them are trying to tear it apart," he said.
"It turned out to be Daisy! And he was shaking her around. I saw it and was like, ‘Oh no! Not daisy! Not my Daisy!" said Alesia Barnes.
The terrifying attack left the two tiny dogs with life-threatening injuries. The couple says Jenny underwent seven hours of surgery and may have brain damage. And at just four and a half pounds, they said Daisy has a fractured pelvis and may not make it.
The woman who owns the property where the big dogs came from said the dogs belong to another person who lives there. She said one is a pit-bull mix, the other is part-Labrador. She said she doesn't know how they got loose.
"I'm ripped, I'm ripped up. I'm trying to keep my composure and doing the best I can. But it was very hard for me to call Alesia this morning…I can't remember making a phone call so painful,” Lori Johnson said.
Johnson said she does not own the dogs but vows to take care of it.
"I will do anything it takes…anything it takes for the neighborhood to be safe. Everybody should walk, talk, live at anytime or any hour be able to walk the loop, be on the beach and respect one another, and if I have in anyway violated that, I will correct it," said Johnson.
The Barnes say they are facing $20,000 in medical bills. But they aren't asking the dog's owner for money. They just want the dogs gone.
"You need to take responsibility for what that dog has become and get it out of the community," said Alesia.
"How do you sleep at night when you know that you've hurt someone so deeply? Both physically and emotionally as well as a sweet little animal," Robert said.
Johnson said she is cooperating with law enforcement and the Barnes.
“I don't want to hide a thing, i don't want to cover up a thing…I will do anything it takes, and if it's getting rid of the dogs, a lot of people will be heartbroken. But it's obviously what it's looking like," she said.
In the video clip, Johnson swears the Pit Bull wouldn't hurt anything but says the black Lab mix obviously 'has a thing' about little dogs.
HAWAII -- A man accused of killing federally protected Laysan albatross birds on Oahu has been sentenced.
On March 16, NYU college student Christian Gutierrez pleaded no contest to amended charges of third-degree theft, prohibited activities, prohibited activities in a natural area reserve, fourth-degree criminal property damage, and second-degree cruelty to animals.
Despite torturing and killing dozens of birds, Gutierrez and the other monsters were only charged with one count of 2nd-degree animal cruelty.
On Thursday, July 6, a judge sentenced the Punahou School graduate to 45 days in jail and a year of probation. He will also have to serve 200 hours of community service and pay restitution.
The vulnerable Kaena albatrosses apparently were easy targets for the killers, who allegedly bashed the birds with a baseball bat, slashed some their bodies and chopped off their wings and legs with a machete and shot others with a pellet gun.
“The nature and circumstances of the crimes that you pled to shock the conscience. The killing of these defenseless and protected birds was inexcusable,” said Circuit Court Judge Jeannette Castagnetti.
Gutierrez spoke before a packed courtroom, and apologized for his actions:
“I’ve been listening to what people have been saying about this case, and about my character, and about what’s happened since the beginning, and also here today in this courtroom. The people have every right to be angry and disgusted with my behavior, as I am disgusted with my own behavior. I wish I had the courage not to go along, but I did and I will forever have that memory.
“Ms. Young, Ms. Case, Ms. Zoll, and Mr. Aila, I am sorry for the impact that my actions have caused you and the community. Ms. (Lindsay Young, executive director, Pacific Rim Conservation Group), seven months ago in the hallway of this courtroom, you said to me you should be ashamed of yourself, and you’re right. I am ashamed of myself.”
If he were really remorseful he wouldn't have dragged this out for more than a year "fighting to get a deferred sentence" which would have wiped his record clean after the probation and blocked the police reports as if he had never tortured these poor animals to death. He's not sorry. If he were, he would have manned up, plead guilty at the onset and issued his apology then.
Gutierrez was taken into custody immediately following his sentencing. While being handcuffed, he uttered yet another apology: “I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad. I’m sorry.”
His attorney, Myles Breiner, says he’s disappointed with the outcome.
He had been fighting to get the charges deferred, meaning if Gutierrez stayed out of trouble, the charges would eventually be wiped from his record. But the judge denied that request.
“We thought that he deserved a deferral,” Breiner said. “We’re disappointed that the court gave him any jail at all. Hopefully when he gets out, he’ll be able to resume his studies in New York.”
His parents clearly have a lot of money. They live in Hawaii and yet they're able to send their kid all the way to NYC to go to school at NYU and have him fly home for breaks? None of that is affordable to 75% of Americans. New York University Undergraduate Student Cost Per Year Data shown for 2014-2015 school year. Tuition & Fees Out-of-State: $46,170 Room and Board: $16,782 Books & Supplies: $1,070 Other Expenses: $2,000 Total In-State: $66,022 Headline should be "Spoiled rich kid tortures and kills animals for his amusement knowing Mommy and Daddy will bail him out"
Gutierrez will have to report to a probation officer once he’s released from jail.
In December 2015, officials found at least 15 nests in Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve were destroyed with either smashed, dead, or missing eggs. At least 32 adults and eggs were killed, officials said, and there was evidence that several birds had their feet cut off.
Seabird monitoring cameras and sound equipment were also missing with a replacement value of $3,100, officials said.
KILLERS BRAGGED ABOUT THEIR CRIMES
According to civilbeat.org, all the details I have about the alleged albatross killers came indirectly from the suspects themselves who, at a party shortly after the Kaena incident, bragged to their peers about what they had done to the birds. Their boasting included showing the metal identification tags obtained by cutting off the albatrosses’ feet.
Some of their peers were stunned and told their parents. The word got out to Punahou School and others.
Oblivious to the reaction of their classmates, the suspects continued to show off the metal tags and even post pictures of the dead birds on their social media sites until eventually taking down the incriminating information.
What makes the alleged crime particularly horrific is nesting albatrosses are harmless, trusting creatures that are unafraid of human beings. By their nature, the birds stay close to their eggs and chicks no matter what’s happening around their nests.
A year later, Gutierrez turned himself in after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“If you approach an animal that is not going to try to escape because it is guarding its eggs, and you not only smash its egg, but rip it apart while alive and then save an ID band as a souvenir, one you had to get by dismembering a limb, for entertainment, and you do it more than a dozen times, you have no conscience,” Executive Director of Pacific Rim Conservation Lindsay Young said.
He initially pleaded not guilty to multiple counts, including theft, entering a prohibited area, prohibited activities in a nature reserve, fourth-degree criminal property damage, and 14 counts of animal cruelty, before reaching a deal with prosecutors.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says the sentencing sends a strong message that crimes like this aren’t taken lightly.
“Everyone wants to be clear that we cannot tolerate this type of behavior. It’s brutal. It’s heinous, and we need to protect our wildlife,” said DLNR chair Suzanne Case. “It’s hard to put a dollar figure on that. We obviously spent hundreds of thousands of dollars creating this protected area and protected from invasive predators, and unfortunately, not protected from man.”
DLNR estimates the long-term effects of the killings resulted in about 320 albatross lost.
Breiner previously told us Gutierrez was not the ring leader, and other individuals — who were juveniles — were involved.
We asked Breiner what’s next for the other boys involved in the case, but he says he can’t comment because those cases are in juvenile court.
THE ALBATROSS IN FOLKLORE
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" tells us that the albatross is a powerful symbol of good luck — and that it can bring terrible misfortune or “bachi” to kill one.
In the poem, a sailor brings to an abrupt end the good sailing conditions his ship has been experiencing when for no reason he fires an arrow from his crossbow to kill a friendly albatross that had taken to following behind the ship.
After the bird’s death, the ship is cursed with life-threatening storms. The furious crew members punish the albatross killer by tying the dead albatross on a rope dangling from his neck.
In the poem, the sailor says: “Ah! well a-day that evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.” -- Civilbeat.org
