STAND. COM. REP. NO.  276-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2368

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2368 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to prevent animal cruelty and protect the public health by establishing a misdemeanor offense for slaughtering or trafficking dogs or cats for human consumption.

 

     The Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The American Kennel Club submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that despite the enactment of animal cruelty offenses under Chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, there are continuous reports of dogs and cats being trafficked or slaughtered for human consumption.  In some cases, the dogs and cats may be pet animals that are stolen or lost.  Moreover, there are concerns that the consumption of these animals may spread disease to humans.  By specifically prohibiting the slaughtering or trafficking of dogs or cats for human consumption, this measure provides law enforcement and local humane societies an additional tool for investigating reports of these harmful activities.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2368 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair