Rescue neglect - 400 animals seized, some dead
Waianae, HI (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jul 20, 2009
County: Honolulu

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Norman Pang

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

An Oahu man whose wife died last week had his animals taken, all 400 of them. It took nine different animal welfare groups several days to transfer all the animals to an emergency shelter. The conditions in which the animals were found could lead to animal cruelty charges by the Hawaiian Humane Society.

These dogs are now being cared for at a temporary shelter after being found in deplorable conditions at a Waianae home, along with cats birds and rabbits. In all, more than 400 animals were rescued by a team of 50 volunteers; some had flown in from the mainland. They found some animals had been living among carcasses.

"It was unsanitary conditions," said Jennifer Kishimori with the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the SPCA.

There were animals that were emaciated with skin and eye infections;others infested with parasites. At least two dogs needed immediate medical attention.

"There were too many animals for one person to care for," said Kishimori.

The animals were taken from Norman Pang, who ran a non-profit called Animal Haven with his wife. Over the years, they took in they took in stray after stray. When his wife died last Monday, he agreed to give up the animals to the SPCA.

"I told my wife you're giving people too much of an easy out, for them to dump the animals and you take care of them for the next ten years if they're not adopted," Pang said.

To some, they were animal saviors. To others, they were animal abusers. The Hawaiian Humane Society said, the Pangs would hoard and also breed animals, then sell them to pet shops and families.

14 years ago, the Humane Society took the Pangs to court, alleging animal cruelty after tips that the couple was selling sick puppies. But a judge found the Pangs not guilty.

Fast forward to Tuesday, Human Society CEO Pamela Burns calls it de ja vue.

"It is very sad that this has been allowed to occur, and reoccur and continue for so many years," Burns said.

Case Updates

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