Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Written Remarks into the House Journal – Consent Calendar
March 10, 2009; 26th Day
Stand. Comm. Rep. No. 674, H.B. 1512, H.D. 1, Relating to Temporary Restraining Orders.
I rise in support of House Bill 1512, House Draft 1, Relating to Temporary Restraining Orders. A goal of mine is to play a small role in helping survivors of domestic violence. There are cases where an individual has threatened to harm not just his partner, but his partner’s pet. Unfortunately, pets get caught in the crossfire of an abusive relationship. Therefore, House Bill 1512, House Draft 1 addresses this threat by authorizing the family court, when issuing a temporary restraining order, to award exclusive care of a pet animal or equine animal and enjoin the restrained party from having any contact with the animal. Under the Hawaii Revised Statutes section 711-1100, “Pet animal” means a dog, cat, domesticated rabbit, guinea pig, domesticated pig, or caged birds (passeriformes, piciformes, and psittaciformes only) so long as not bred for consumption and “equine animal” means an animal of or belonging to the family Equidae, including horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, asses, burros, and zebras. Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 