Chapter 143 — Chapter 143

§143-1 Definitions. Whenever used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: "Microchip" or "microchip identification" means a device that is implanted under the skin of an animal and that contains contact information for the owner of the animal. "Officer" means any …

§143-10 Stray dogs. Every person who takes into the person's possession any stray dog shall immediately notify the animal control officer and release the dog to the animal control officer upon demand. If there is attached to the dog a license tag for the then current year, the an…

§143-11 Redemption of stray licensed dogs. The owner of any licensed dog impounded and not claimed within twenty-four hours as provided in section 143-10, may redeem the dog at any time before the sale or destruction of the dog by paying to the animal control officer an impoundme…

§143-12 Seizure and disposal of diseased dogs; penalty. Any police officer or animal control officer may seize and, after notice to the owner if the owner can be found, may kill any dog running at large which is so obviously diseased as to be a menace to the health of persons or …

§143-13 Destruction of diseased or unfit dogs. All dogs taken into the custody of the animal control officer which by reason of age, disease, or other causes, are unfit for further use or are dangerous to keep impounded, may be forthwith humanely destroyed by the animal control o…

§143-14 Female dogs. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any female dog, licensed or unlicensed, to permit it to run at large while the dog is in the copulating season. [L 1941, c 268, §12; RL 1945, §7163; RL 1955, §156-14; HRS §143-14]

§143-15 Contracts for seizing and impounding dogs. Any county may contract with any society or organization formed for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or similar dog protective organization, for the seizure and impounding of all unlicensed dogs, and for the maintenance of a…

§143-16 REPEALED. L 2021, c 4, §2.

§143-17 Wrongful interference with officers. It shall be unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any officer in the exercise of the officer's duties as provided in this chapter. [L 1941, c 268, §15; RL 1945, §7166; RL 1955, §156-17; HRS §143-17; gen ch 1985]

§143-18 Unlawful disposition of impounded dogs. It shall be unlawful for any officer to knowingly sell or give any impounded dog to any person, firm, corporation, association, medical college, or university for the purpose of animal experimentation. [L 1941, c 268, §16; RL 1945, …

§143-19 Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter for which no special penalty is provided shall be fined not more than $50. [L 1941, c 268, §18; RL 1945, §7168; RL 1955, §156-19; HRS §143-19]

§143-2 License or microchip required. It shall be unlawful for any person to own or harbor a:

§143-2.2 Microchip identification. (a) An owner shall have a microchip implanted in the owner's dog or cat, and the owner shall register the microchip number and the owner's contact information with a microchip registration company. (b) When the contact information of the owner o…

§143-3 License fee controlled by ordinance. Except where licenses are dispensed with pursuant to section 143-2, each county council shall have the power to fix the license fee for dogs on a biennial basis. Until and unless otherwise provided by ordinance the biennial license fee …

§143-4 Issuance of license and tags. Upon the receipt of the license fee, the director of finance shall issue to the person paying the fee a license stating the following: The director of finance shall at the same time issue and deliver to the person a metal tag in the form and d…

§143-5 Removal and imitation of dog tags. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove any tag from any dog not owned by the person or under the person's control, or to place on any dog any license tag not issued as herein provided, or to make or have in possession or to place o…

§143-6 Lost dog tags. If any license tag is lost or stolen, the person to whom the tag was issued shall be entitled to receive a duplicate thereof by presenting to the director of finance who issued the license the original license and satisfactory proof that the tag was lost or …

§143-7 Pounds and animal control officers. The council of each county may establish and maintain pounds for the impounding of dogs under this chapter, and may provide for the appointment and compensation of animal control officers who shall have all the powers of a sheriff or pol…

§143-8 Seizure and redemption of unlicensed dogs. Except where licensing requirements are dispensed with, every officer shall seize any unlicensed dog found running at large or found upon any public highway, street, alley, court, place, square, or grounds, or upon any unfenced lo…

§143-9 Redemption of dog after sale. The owner of any dog which has been seized and sold as provided in this chapter, at any time within thirty days after the sale, may redeem the dog from the purchaser by paying to the purchaser the amount of the purchase price paid by the purch…