LIHUE — The Kauai Humane Society’s “Humaneatarian of the Year” award goes to someone on the island “who makes a significant impact on the welfare of our animals.”
Bev Harter has done that.
The Kilauea woman and owner of Jack Harter Helicopters along with husband Jack will be honored at tonight’s “Paws for Celebration,” to benefit KHS.
“Bev and Jack have inspired many people on the island to do better for the animals,” said Mirah Horowitz, KHS executive director.
She said the Harters for decades cared for animals of all shapes, sizes and kinds — horses, pigs, rabbits, and dogs and cats.
“You think about someone who is a humaneatarian, who really fosters animal welfare, Jack and Bev have been taking care of animals on this island as long as I’ve known them,” said Horowitz, who met the Harters when she was 5 years old when her family came to the island. While Horowitz’s parents went on a helicopter ride, Bev watched their kids.
They went on to become friends and spend nights at the Harter home.
“I can remember going around town with Bev to the bakeries and the restaurants and asking for their leftover and day-olds to feed the ducks,” Horowitz said.
The Harters are all about compassion for animals.
“Part of my love for animals comes from spending so much time with them,” Horowitz said.
Bev Harter downplays how much she has done for KHS. She notes that it’s been years since she volunteered there, but she has long donated money to KHS.
She wants to do all she can.
“They’re really struggling to save animals,” she said. “I think they’re doing a great job. Mirah tries hard to preserve animal life.”
The Harters have turned much of their property on island into wildlife refuges.
“People are always giving us their animals when they can’t take of them anymore,” Bev said.
As for Horowitz, Harter said she works hard and has many ideas to get animals adopted, so she supports her efforts.
She recalls Horowitz being an ambitious child.
“She’s the same way she is now as she was then,” Harter said. “She’s dynamic, she’s always doing something constructive. She’s quite a woman and she was quite a little girl. She was always a leader.”
The Harters will be at tonight’s Paws for Celebration at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club. The Humanetarian of the Year Award includes an engraved plaque on a koa bowl and plenty of applause.
Bev is hoping “everyone contributes to KHS as much as they can because it’s a very important part of the island.”
For tickets, $125, to the Paws for Celebration, go to kauaihumane.org.
•••
Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
