At a Glance
- Case Type
- Criminal Indictment
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii County, Hawaii
- Date
- 2023-08-01
- Status
- Pending
A 71-year-old man died after being mauled by four large dogs on Hawaii's Big Island, triggering a criminal investigation into the animals' owners under Hawaii County's animal negligence ordinance, according to The Washington Post [1]. Police identified the victim as Robert Northrop, of Ocean View [1][2]. Northrop was treated by medical personnel at the scene and died while being transported Tuesday to Kona Community Hospital [2].
A witness alerted police after seeing Northrop being attacked in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates neighborhood by four large dogs. The witness chased the dogs off and called authorities. Hawaii County Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz stated that "there is currently no evidence that the victim provoked this horrific attack," adding that the incident "could have been avoided." Police are also checking claims the dogs had previously been reported as stray animals. [1][2]
The dogs' owners were not home when the attack occurred, but police have contacted them. The owners subsequently surrendered all four dogs and a litter of 10 puppies to county animal control. [1] Police are investigating the incident as a suspected case of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog. [1][2] Failure to take reasonable measures to prevent an unprovoked dog attack resulting in serious injury or death is a felony under county law. [1][2] If convicted, the dog owners could face up to a $25,000 fine, 10 years in prison, restitution, and the humane destruction of the dogs involved. [1][2]
The case surfaces broader legal questions about owner liability in Hawaii. Hawaii does not follow a traditional one-bite rule, nor does it impose blanket strict liability in every situation; instead, the state has adopted a modified strict liability standard that makes dog owners legally responsible for injuries caused by their dogs, even if the dog has never shown signs of aggression before. [3] When an owner fails to confine or control a dog and that failure leads to an injury, they may face civil liability and even criminal penalties; Hawaii's counties, including the Big Island, also maintain their own ordinances concerning dog ownership and control. [3] The convergence of county criminal exposure and state civil liability means the owners in this case face legal risk on two parallel tracks.
Just days before Northrop was attacked, his daughter, Shannon Matson, had spoken at a community task force meeting about the ongoing problem of loose and rogue dogs in her neighborhood. [4] Hawaii County Animal Control became an independent agency on July 1, 2023, falling under the Mayor's office, with the Hawaii County Council budgeting approximately $4 million for the reorganized department; Mayor Mitch Roth said the agency was being rebuilt from scratch. [4] Police said an autopsy will determine the official cause of death. [1]
References
[1] The Washington Post. (2023, August 02). Hawaii man dies after being mauled by 4 large dogs, police investigate owners under negligence law. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2023/08/02/hawaii-dogs-mauling-kona/ff5a6f4e-3158-11ee-85dd-5c3c97d6acda_story.html
[2] Spectrum News / Associated Press. (2023, August 02). Hawaii man dies after being mauled by 4 dogs, police investigate owners. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2023/08/02/hawaii-man-dies-after-being-mauled-by-4-large-dogs–police-investigate-owners-under-negligence-law
[3] Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner. (2025, May 09). What are the legal responsibilities of dog owners in Hawaii? https://lyslaw.com/what-are-the-legal-responsibilities-of-dog-owners-in-hawaii/
[4] Hawaii News Now. (2023, August 03). Hawaii Island police identify man who was mauled to death by pack of dogs in 'horrific attack.' https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/08/02/senseless-tragedy-investigation-underway-after-dog-pack-mauls-elderly-man-death-hawaii-island/