WAHIAWA, Hawaii (KHON2) — A disturbing case of animal abuse is once again raising questions about how seriously Hawaiʻi’s criminal justice system treats these crimes.
There was a viral video that showed a teen repeatedly beating a dog. KHON2 is not broadcasting it due to its disturbing and violent nature, but police did arrest the suspect and it has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
The video captured a 15-year-old allegedly striking a dog over the head multiple times with what appears to be a shoe.
The video spread quickly across social media on Thursday, July 11 and the dog — now identified as Hina — was rescued and taken into the care of the Hawaiian Humane Society within hours.
“There didn’t seem to be any cause, this dog was not putting up any kind of a fight. It was just being forced to suffer this kind of abuse,” said Hawaiian Humane Society Community Engagement director Steph Kendrick.
Hina is now safe and the Humane Society said she is starting to show some signs of healing.
“She’s just the sweetest dog. She is in our care. She came in terrified. It hasn’t been very long, so she’s just kind of starting to come over, out of her shell. But our staff has been showering her with attention, and she’s been pretty responsive,” Kendrick said.
Animal advocates said as their outrage grows, their biggest obstacle is the Prosecutor’s Office, which has previously dismissed similar cases.
“Prosecutors, they are the biggest challenge. They can have every evidence in the world, we can present them with videos, pictures, victim statements,” said Hina’s Legacy Rescue Foundation president Chantell Moniz, “everything they ask for, everything they need. Yet it’s not enough.”
Moniz runs a local dog rescue group and points to a case in 2024 involving a dog named Max, whose owner was caught on video allegedly hanging Max by his leash on a walk — that case was dismissed.
KHON2 reached out to the Prosecutor’s Office for a statement, and the office first said they could not comment. KHON2 asked why and was sent an automated message that said they were out of the office until Monday, July 14.
“We share those frustrations. We’ve been trying for a while now to get some more information from the Prosecutor’s Office on several cases that we thought were very solid, that have been dismissed, and we don’t yet have that follow-up information, but we’ll continue pressing,” Kendrick said.
Advocates said we should be just as concerned about the child as the canine when it comes to the recent case.
“At their age, their mind is not developed enough to understand that, ‘I need to stop hitting this dog, or I need to discipline this dog in a different way,’” Moniz said.
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Anyone who witnesses animal abuse is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers.