On April 24, 2026, an Oʻahu judge ordered a four-year-old French bulldog named Fendi returned to its owner, even though a criminal animal cruelty case against that owner is still active. The ruling landed hard across the island after a video showing the dog being roughly handled spread online. Advocates say the decision exposes gaps in Hawaii's forfeiture rules, and local residents, along with the person who recorded the clip, say they are disappointed and frustrated.
Judge's ruling and court record
Per KHON2, court documents indicate the judge did not find enough probable cause to justify forfeiture and signed an order returning Fendi to the owner's custody. The clip reviewed by KHON2 appears to show the dog being struck and roughly handled, and prosecutors have an active animal cruelty matter on file, with an arraignment scheduled for May 13, 2026. The choice to send the dog back home has prompted criticism from advocates who had urged the Hawaiian Humane Society to seek permanent forfeiture.
Hawaiian Humane Society response
The Hawaiian Humane Society says its officers pushed to keep Fendi out of the home but were constrained by the legal standard for forfeiture. In an interview with KHON2, HHS operations vice president Stephanie Kendrick said the law "does not yet recognize animals as members of families" and that the nonprofit is working on ways to make forfeiture rules stronger. The HHS outlines Hawaii's animal welfare laws and the process for petitions and impoundment on its site for readers looking for background on how these cases move through court.
Community reaction and precedent
People who saw the viral video say returning the dog feels like a step backward for animal protection. Lawmakers and animal advocates told reporters that community pressure and sustained public attention sometimes influence enforcement and deterrence, even if they do not control a judge's call in any single case. Judges in Hawaii have returned animals before after abuse convictions or pleas, and a January 2025 case in which a judge returned a breeder's dog drew similar criticism, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
What happens next legally
Hawaii law allows a duly incorporated humane society holding an impounded pet to petition the court for forfeiture before final disposition of certain criminal charges, but courts must follow statutory procedures and find appropriate grounds. The state code on forfeiture is set out in HRS §711-1109.2, published on Justia, and the surrender and forfeiture language in HRS §711-1110.5 is also available through Justia, which provides the legal framework that governs these decisions. With an arraignment set for May 13, 2026, prosecutors will have an opportunity in court to present evidence, but forfeiture remains a separate civil-style process the humane society can still pursue if it chooses.
For now, the case has left advocates calling for legislative fixes and the Hawaiian Humane Society saying it will continue pushing for clearer, stronger tools to keep animals safe while criminal cases move forward.
