As of July 1, 2023, Hawai‘i County Animal Control Services will transition to become the Animal Control and Protection Agency which will no longer be under HPD management.

On July 1, 2021, the County assumed responsibility of Animal Control Services as part of a two-year pilot program following the end of their contract with the Hawai‘i Rainbow Rangers on June 30, 2021. 
 
Earlier this year, the Hawai‘i County Council passed Bill 22, creating a new Animal Control and Protection Agency, which will fall under the Office of Management (Mayor’s Office.) The County is currently in the process of hiring a new agency administrator and administrative services assistant.

Animal control services will continue in much the same way while it transitions to the new agency. As a reminder, phone numbers for animal control services will remain the same with (808) 327-3558 serving as the phone number for lost pets and non-emergencies. Calls regarding animal control services are categorized as Priority One, Two, or Three, and that will also remain the same for the time being.

Priority One calls include those for injured animals, any animal that is a public safety risk, animal cruelty, and situations in which an animal’s owner has been arrested or died with no family to pick up the animal. For animal emergencies, people can continue to call the Police Dispatch number at (808) 935-3311.

Priority Three calls pertain to deceased animals on the roadway. If people come across a deceased animal on a county road please call the Department of Public Works Highways Division at (808) 961-8349. If the deceased animal is on a state Highway or road, please call the State Department of Transportation Highways Division at (808) 933-8866.
 
Priority Two calls pertain to lost or found pets. Below are several steps individuals can take if they find a stray animal or lose a pet.
 
● People who find healthy stray animals are encouraged to have the animal scanned for a microchip by a County of Hawai‘i Animal Control Officer, at a veterinarian’s office, or by a local rescue group. If a found animal is microchipped, veterinarians can try to find its owner by searching for microchip on my24pet.com.
 
● People who find a healthy stray animal or who lose a pet are encouraged to post it as lost / found on https://lost.petcolove.org/. Petco Love Lost is a searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to make finding lost pets quicker and easier. This simple-to-use tool will be easily accessible to participating animal organizations nationwide, as well as any pet parent or person who finds a lost pet. Uploaded photos of a missing dog or cat are immediately scanned to determine whether the lost pet is at a participating shelter or with a neighbor in the community.

A handful of organizations across the island including the Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency, Hawai‘i Animal Kuleana Alliance, and Hawai‘i Island Humane Society are using this technology.

The Hawai‘i County Animal Control and Protection Agency will continue to manage the shelter facilities in east and west Hawai‘i with kennel staff caring and feeding the animals.

Photo credit: HPD