Call for tougher penalties for dog owners whose pets attack others

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HONOLULU (KHON2) — Lawmakers want to tighten laws for pet owners whose dogs bite people. The family of a man killed by a pack of dogs said dog owners must take responsibility.

Dog attacks don't just leave victims with physical injuries. Many said they were traumatized and living in fear.

A number of egregious incidents have made headlines, including the August 2023 beating of 71-year-old Robert Northrop to death.

“Yesterday was the six month anniversary of the death of my father, Bob Northrop. He lived in Ocean View. He was attacked and killed by four loose dogs while out for a walk.” Shannon Matson explained. “And the dog owners have yet to face any consequences. There have been no consequences, no accountability, no prosecutions.”

Matson is not alone. Many people who were attacked by dogs said there was little they could do to help, adding insult to injury.

Stephanie Kendrick, director of community engagement for the Hawaii Humane Society, said the problem is a lack of proper rules regarding dangerous dog incidents.

“What we have is a hodgepodge of statewide rules, and what we have are very light penalties for these violations,” Kendrick added. “I'm talking about misdemeanors, and that has nothing to do with the nature of the attack.”

A new bill gaining attention in Congress aims to change that.

“What this bill does is create a process for designating dangerous dogs and confining them,” explained Rep. Gregor Ilagan. “And in serious situations, such as when a dog attacks a human, there are appropriate penalties.”

According to HB2058, a dangerous dog is defined as “a dog that, without provocation, causes a bite to a person or other animal.”

Kendrick said the bill is not targeted at any particular breed of dog, and the onus is on dog owners.

“What we don't want is for the dog to be punished for natural behavior,” Kendrick explained. “When someone comes onto your property and it's a stranger, dogs react negatively. Well, that's kind of a dog's job.”

However, if the attack is unprovoked, the dog's owner could be charged with a Class C felony, Ilagan said. He said if the victim dies, the dog could be euthanized and the owner could face up to five years in prison.

“We need to encourage dog owners to take appropriate responsibility,” Ilagan said. “Dog owners need to take care of their dogs, keep them on their property, and make sure they do not harm others.”

Matson said she knows nothing can bring her father back, but the tougher law will help bring some closure to the family.

“We feel that stronger legislation will help ensure our father's memory, and we also hope that no one ever has to go through an experience like this again.”