A new vendor for animal control services for Hawaii County has been selected.
Beginning Saturday, Hawaii Rainbow Rangers will administer these services on behalf of the county, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
HRR is a branch of Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit founded in 1999 dedicated to the well-being of abandoned, abused and neglected animals.
Animal control services were previously performed by the Hawaii Island Humane Society.
Over the next three months, as HRR establishes permanent shelters and staffing, interim services will be provided.
The following services will be provided beginning Saturday.
One animal shelter will be operated in Kailua-Kona, formally the West Hawaii site of HIHS.
This shelter is located at 74-5225 Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. Shelter hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and dog licensing will be conducted at this location. During the interim, no animal drop boxes/cages will be provided.
HRR may be reached at 808-666-9589 to receive requests for services and complaints regarding animals from the public. This phone line will be staffed Monday-Friday during business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Messages left on the answering machine will be responded to on the next business day, inclusive of those concerning lost pets.
A Facebook informational page has been created at /Rainbow-Friends-Animals-Alive.
Please contact the police department at 935-3311 for animal related after-hours emergencies.
Animal control officers will be available to pick up stray, unwanted, trapped or vicious animals islandwide. Animals will be transported to private sanctuaries in East Hawaii and the Kona shelter, pending final disposition.
Animal control officers also will respond to reports of deceased animals on roadways or roadway shoulders. Contact HRR for these requests.
Free spay and neuter clinics will be announced and held once monthly. Contact HRR for further information about these services.
During the interim limited service period from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, police department officers will conduct all animal cruelty and related investigations.
Beginning Nov. 1, HRR will operate three shelters, including the one in Keaau.