Every pet owner deserves to know that when Hawaiʻi’s animal protection laws are violated, those laws will be enforced fairly, thoroughly, and consistently.

This petition is not asking for new laws or harsher penalties.

It is asking Hawaiʻi County to enforce the laws that already exist, to conduct thorough and transparent investigations into reports of animal cruelty and the unlawful relocation of animals, and to ensure that every family receives the same commitment to justice under the law.

Our family learned why this matters when our beloved cat, Squatter, disappeared in April 2026.

Squatter wasn’t a stray. He was part of our family. He was neutered, microchipped, ear-tipped, and registered with our homeowners association. Like many cats, he enjoyed spending short periods outdoors and always came home.

This time, he never did.

As we searched for Squatter, we learned that this was not an isolated incident. Evidence indicates that Squatter and multiple community cats were trapped and relocated from the area they called home. We are also concerned that at least one cat may have suffered a broken tail during the trapping process, raising serious questions about whether humane trapping practices were followed.

On April 29, 2026, reports were filed with Hawaiʻi County Animal Control and the Hawaiʻi Police Department. More than nine weeks later, we continue searching for Squatter while also seeking answers through the appropriate channels. We have contacted county officials, state officials, and animal welfare organizations with one simple request:

Please enforce the laws that already exist.

If our existing animal protection laws are not enforced, they cannot protect the animals they were written to protect or the families who love them.

We respectfully ask Hawaiʻi County officials to:
Complete a thorough and transparent investigation into the reported trapping and relocation of Squatter and the affected community cats.
Enforce Hawaiʻi’s existing animal protection laws whenever sufficient evidence supports doing so.
Improve communication with reporting parties by acknowledging complaints, providing meaningful updates when appropriate, and maintaining transparency throughout investigations.
Ensure that trapped animals are handled humanely, scanned for microchips whenever possible, and properly documented.
Work collaboratively with experienced Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) volunteers and animal welfare organizations to protect both owned pets and community cats while following Hawaiʻi law.
Why this matters
This petition is about more than Squatter.

It is about every family that loves a pet.

It is about every volunteer who cares for Hawaiʻi’s community cats.

It is about making sure our animal protection laws are applied fairly and consistently, regardless of who is involved.

I don’t know whether this petition will bring Squatter home.

I pray every day that it will.

But I do believe that if enough people stand together and ask for accountability, transparency, and consistent enforcement of the law, we can help protect other families from experiencing the same heartbreak.

If you believe Hawaiʻi’s animal protection laws should be enforced…

If you believe families deserve answers…

If you believe every pet deserves the protection of the law…

Please sign this petition and share it.

Mahalo for standing with Squatter, Hawaiʻi’s community cats, and every family that believes our animal protection laws should be more than words on paper.

The laws already exist.

Now let’s make sure they are enforced.