PUHI — Adoptions are strong this summer at the Kauai Humane Society, said Executive Director Mirah Horowitz.
“We had 35 adoptions last week and 12 transfers,” she said. “The adoptions included two guniea pigs.”
In the beginning of June, KHS was adopting out about 13 dogs and cats per week.
Instead of those numbers declining like they generally would in the summer, KHS’s adoptions to 17 in the week ending July 7. Then, the following week ,27 dogs and cats were adopted, with seven animals transferred off island.
That led up to July 15-21; during that time period 19 dogs were adopted, 14 cats were adopted, and the two guinea pigs — Kali and Apple — found new homes as well.
Animal intake for that week was recorded at 13 cats and 29 dogs.
“The fact that we’re able to have such a strong week in the middle of the summer (is great). It’s a national phenomenon, summer is historically slow for adoptions and higher in terms of intakes,” Horowitz said.
Summertime numbers often decline as families take vacations.
Data from Shelter Animals Count— an independent organization created to compile data on sheltered animal statistics — shows nationwide cats have a seasonal variability of over 115 percent, with intakes peaking in June and July.
SAC calculated seasonal variability for dog intakes at just 19 percent from the high to low seasons.
She attributes KHS’s recent rehoming success to two of their programs: the transfer program and the field trip program.
Transfers have been on the rise since KHS increased their shelter partners on the mainland. They now partner with eight animal organizations that take mainly dogs from Kauai, including the rescue Dog Gone in Seattle.
Field trips help the numbers too. Anyone can drop by KHS and take a dog out for the day with no further obligations, but many people bond with the animals.
“So, people take them out and then fall in love and decide they can’t live without them,” Horowitz said. “Sometimes it’s instantaneous.”
Sometimes, people reach out to KHS weeks after the field trip inquiring about the specific dog and then go through the process of adopting and bringing them home.
“Last week we ended up sending one to Florida,” Horowitz said.
Tuesday afternoon, the Cantrell family from North Carolina confirmed Horowitz’s statement as they walked field trip dog Nala along the Kauai coastal path.
“We’d probably adopt her if we didn’t already have three, she’s so sweet and so great for tourists. She loves walks and she’ll chase the chickens away when you’re eating,” said Courtney Cantrell.
Cantrell’s daughters, Susan and Vivien gushed about the taffy-colored dog, which was patiently weaving through the family and loving the attention.
“She’s so sweet and happy and energetic,” Susan said. “We’re tempted (to keep her).
