Increase in dog bites on Oahu prompts concern and legislative action

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu EMS is reporting a staggering increase in the number of dog bites happening on Oahu.

Data shows the number of emergency calls for people who’ve been attacked has jumped nearly 20% in the past year.

The Hawaiian Humane Society says historically, laws regarding dangerous dogs have been exceedingly lenient, making it difficult to effectively address the issue. While a new law, Act 224, does give police more enforcement authority, portions of that legislation won’t go into effect until next July.

On bike paths, sidewalks and in parks across Oahu, reports of loose, aggressive dogs aren’t uncommon.

MORE: HNN Investigates

For the past three years, Reggie Totor has spent most mornings at Halawa District Park.

“I come about six days a week,” he said. “I like to run on the grass. It’s much easier on my legs.”

Totor told HNN Investigates the issue of loose dogs has been a problem at the park since the beginning, adding many of the unleashed animals appear to belong to homeless people who camp nearby.

He said, “A lot of times when they come towards me, the person would say, ‘Hey, hey, hey.’ Then they would stop.”

But that’s not what happened Aug. 19.

He says that day, the campers were gone — forced to leave during a homeless sweep.

Totor said, “I was just minding my own business, running. All of a sudden, I hear the barking. But they were already running towards me fast. Medium size dogs. There was a dominant one who led the pack.”

But this time, there was no one to reign in the three aggressive animals.

Totor was surrounded.

“I said OK. Here we go again. I’ll ignore them. I’m not going to be afraid. I’m not going to panic,” he said. “All of a sudden, I just felt it. And I’m like darn it! And I looked down and I just saw the blood.”

The pack leader had sunken his teeth into the left side of Totor’s knee.

“I went to the ER. Pali Momi,” he said.

It took a month for the wound to heal.

Totor later found out one of his friends was also attacked at the park by the same pack of dogs that afternoon.

“I heard he had to fight off the dominant one,” Totor said.

According to EMS officials, between Sept. 13, 2023 to Sept. 13, 2024, Honolulu EMS responded to 300 calls for possible dog bites. That’s up nearly 20% from the previous year when medics responded to 256 calls.

“On average, our crews go to maybe one dog bite every couple days. But over the last few weeks, we’ve actually been seeing two or three a day on some days,” said Department of Emergency Services Director Jim Ireland.

On Sept. 8, Aala Park was the site of a horrific dog attack that nearly claimed a woman’s life.

“It literally happened right over here (by the park bathroom),” Ireland said. “It was a terrible mauling.”

According to law enforcement sources, a bystander was also hurt attempting to pull the dog off the woman.

The Hawaiian Humane Society confirms the animal was captured and humanely euthanized. Meanwhile, HPD says the dog’s owner was never identified.

“Not all dog bites were going to involve homeless people’s dogs,” Ireland said. “But we’re seeing more and more where homeless populations, or homeless people have pets, have dogs that are involved in biting someone else.”

HNN Investigates asked both the Blangiardi administration and the Honolulu Police Department what they’re doing to keep the public safe.

In a statement, a spokesperson from the City said:

“The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation works with the Honolulu Police Department on enforcement of park rules, which includes responding to reports of loose, dangerous dogs.

Specifically at ‘A’ala Park, there is an area for unleashed dogs, so the presence of animals at the park is to be expected. A dog’s kahu is responsible for maintaining control of their animal and faces the consequences should that animal attack another person or animal.

We are working with the Hawaiian Humane Society on both making our parks friendlier to leashed dogs and increasing the amount of unleashed areas, while also highlighting the need to control and cleanup after your pets.

We believe these incidents of pet kahus not controlling their animals is not representative of the larger community of pet kahus.”

HPD told HNN Investigates it’s also working with the Humane Society and advises the public to be vigilant and to call 911 to report loose, dangerous dogs.

HNN Investigates also learned lawmakers passed ACT 224 this past legislative session.

According to the Hawaiian Humane Society, it will establish the offense of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog and creates a felony penalty for a bite that maims or kills a person.

It also stipulates rules regarding the impoundment of dangerous dogs.

We also confirmed the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Pet Kokua Outreach team often works with those in the unhoused community to provide free spay and neuter services to curb pet overpopulation.

Meanwhile, since the attack, Totor says he’s become increasingly aware of the potential danger.

“I just have this stick,” he said.

It’s a way for him to protect himself against loose dogs at the park.

“It gives me a distance to keep them away,” said Totor.

Officials at the Humane Society also stress the importance of calling 911 if you encounter loose aggressive dogs, saying those reports are critical in helping gauge issues in specific areas.

Callers will be asked to provide details like the specific location, number of dogs and if any suspected owners are seen in the area.

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