WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Maui judge has denied a woman’s request to be released from jail after she allegedly attacked a dog with a machete.
Officials said 40-year-old Tiare Kawaakoa is accused of slashing a dog multiple times on Aug. 13 at the Paia municipal parking lot.
Kawaakoa remains in custody after pleading not guilty to animal cruelty and terroristic threatening charges. She claimed she was defending her dog that was being attacked but witnesses deny that. But witnesses say the dog was leashed up and she attacked the pet even after other people tried to intervene.
The 7-year-old dog, named Tommy Boy, suffered severe injuries and is still in an animal hospital. He underwent more than five hours of emergency surgery back in August. Maui Humane Society said bone-deep gashes were left from the dogs face all the way to the tip of his tail, which was ultimately amputated.
“We could see the bones of his spine,” Maui Humane Society Enforcement Officer Kaitlyn Mason said.
“He had bone chips from his shoulder blade, the laceration that he had right across his forehead actually did break the the frontal sinus. So all the way through his forehead and into the bony portion of his skull.”
Kawaako was granted a bail reduction but denied supervised released. She’s due back in court on Halloween.
Meanwhile, Tommy Boy is now up for adoption after undergoing months of physical and social rehabilitation. For information on adopting Tommy Boy, click here.
