A dog named Ricardo was beaten in public in Honolulu—an act witnessed and recorded.

He has since been removed from that situation and is now in the care of the Hawaiian Humane Society. But his future is not secure. It depends on what the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office does next.

Without strong action, Ricardo could be returned to the person who harmed him.

This is urgent. And it is not an isolated concern.

Across our community, there is a growing and deeply troubling pattern: animal abuse cases are too often not pursued with the seriousness they demand. When documented acts of cruelty do not result in meaningful accountability, it signals that these offenses are tolerated.

That is unacceptable.

It puts animals at risk. It erodes public trust. And it contradicts the values of care, responsibility, and aloha that define Honolulu.

Ricardo’s case is a clear test of whether this pattern will continue—or change.

We call on the Prosecutor’s Office to:

• Pursue appropriate and meaningful charges in Ricardo’s case
• Ensure that Ricardo is not returned to an unsafe environment
• Demonstrate consistent, serious enforcement of animal cruelty laws
• Provide greater transparency in how these cases are handled

Ricardo cannot speak for himself. Our community must.

Sign this petition or reach out to the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office directly at patadmin@honolulu.gov or (808) 768-7400. Demand accountability—and ensure that cruelty is met with consequences.