On September 11, 2009, Norman Pang of Hawaii filed suit against the following individuals:

• Pamela Burns, President & CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society
• Kenoi Vaughn, Manager of Field Services of the Hawaiian Humane Society
• Rigo Niera, Director of Animal Protection of the Hawaiian Humane Society
• Rebecca Rhodes, Executive Director of Kauai Humane Society
• Inga Gibson, Hawaii State Director (Lobbyist) of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
• Scotlund Haisley, Senior Director, Emergency Services of the HSUS
• Rowdy Shaw, Raid Team Member, HSUS
• Jackie (last name unknown), HSUS

This lawsuit is directly in response to the actions taken surrounding the July 19, 2009 raid publicized by the HSUS video below, actions that are outrageous if the details of this case are proven out.

Norman Pang is the widower of Bonnie Pang.  His wife, Bonnie, operated the Hawaii 501(c)3 non-profit Animal Haven which according to its charter was to provide “permanent sanctuary for all species of animals and birds where they would be completely safe and well cared for”.  Bonnie founded Animal Haven as a no-kill and hospice environment in opposition to the euthanasia policies of the Hawaii Humane Society (HHS), with whom she had a history of conflict.  This history included allegations in 1995 by HHS of neglect and animal abuse from which Bonnie was acquitted and after which the Pang’s filed suit against HHS and the City/County for their actions. 

Since 1995, people have continued to bring animals to Animal Haven, described in the court filings as “malnourished, ill, crippled, and/or terminally ill”, in the knowledge the animals would not be turned away.   Prior to her death,  Bonnie asked her husband not to turn the animals over to HHS if anything happened to her in order to prevent their mass euthanasia.   On July 13, 2009,  Bonnie passed away in her sleep.

Enter the Humane Society of the United States

Knowing that he could not manage the needs of the animals, the grieving Norman Pang immediately set about seeking help to find a new home for the animals in compliance with his wife’s last wishes.  He received an offer of assistance from Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) who contacted the HSUS.

Two days after Bonnie’s death, on July 15^th, HSUS personnel accompanied by OSPCA personnel informed Norman that they would care for the animals from that point forward & had Norman sign transfer of ownership of all animals and birds into to the HSUS and OSPCA as of that day.

According to the papers filed, no one from HSUS or OSPCA would appear to care for the animals they now owned for FOUR days.  Norman Pang was left to do so, alone, providing food and water to animals that no longer belonged to him.  On July 17^th,  HSUS personnel including Scotlund Haisley visited the property with Mr Haisley stating that “he was satisfied there was no basis for any criminal complaint”

On July 19^th, HSUS personnel began removing the animals with Scotlund Haisley repeating his statement that “he was satisfied there was no basis for any criminal complaint”.  This was the same day that HSUS personnel showed up with the video cameras, to tape the conditions of the animals owned by HSUS and OSPCA for 4 days but cared for by neither.

Animals left to be cared for by a man, alone, who had just lost his wife.  A man who acted immediately to fulfill his wife’s last wishes and in the interest of the animals, knowing he was in over his head. 

This is the Humane Society of the United States at work. 

This is how your donations are being used.

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders
All rights reserved

This is one of those nights.

Nathan Winograd, author of Redemption and a leader in the No Kill shelter movement, lost two family members this week to cancer, his uncle and his cat Gina.  Though I have never met Nathan, my heart absolutely breaks for him.  That he has the courage to use this time to examine his own views on euthanasia is something I find astounding.  Its been nearly ten years since I lost my own mother to cancer and I can only confront many aspects of it indirectly.

Suffice it to say that I do not look at the topic of euthanasia lightly or without a serious measure of thought.  

Even in its strictest of definitions, euthanasia takes a terrible toll on the decider .  The person who makes that final decision for their beloved pet is invariably left with their own questions.  Was it too soon? Did I wait too long?  Did I make the right decision?  Is euthanasia ever the right decision?   Like many ethical questions the answer is deeply personal, influenced by individual experience.  One of the most difficult issues in the concept of euthanasia is the recognition that different individuals can come to significantly different decisions when or even if to euthanize with similar soul-searching. 

I suspect that Nathan and I would make quite different decisions on the definition of when and why to bring a merciful end to an animal’s life.  I am informed by a different perspective & different experiences.  Yet I still understand the pain, questions & doubts.  The ability to examine our own hearts makes us human, capable of being humane & unique as a species.  It is our blessing, our curse & we would be poorer without it.

Choose what makes you human, and humane.

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved