An Oahu dog owner thought she would never find justice after her beloved Bichon, Kiki, was killed in a dog attack in 2024. But after persistence and public attention, her case was reopened, leading to a court ruling in April 2025.
Emogene Yoshimura was walking in Manoa Park when a large unleashed dog attacked. “He came out of his yard, chased us, knocked me down, and bit Kiki on her neck, puncturing her trachea,” Yoshimura said.
The case was initially dismissed. However, after renewed focus on the issue, Yoshimura was awarded restitution covering all expenses for her new Bichon puppy, Calia. The payment came from the owner of the dangerous dog.
“It was such a nightmare losing Kiki, and I had nightmares every night until this,” Yoshimura said. “I hope no one else has to go through what I did.”
She added that she won’t walk in the park again with her new puppy. While restitution can’t bring Kiki back, Yoshimura hopes her story encourages other victims to report similar incidents.
A new law increasing penalties for owners of dangerous dogs will take effect on July 1. Still, the Hawaiian Humane Society stresses that the community must speak up.
“People need to be their own advocates because the system doesn’t always take these cases seriously yet,” said Steph Kendrick, Community Engagement Director at the Hawaiian Humane Society. “Think about your community and make that report.”
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