KIPU — The Kaua‘i Humane Society faced a situation on Thursday that it hoped would not happen.
“We have completely maxed out our kennels at the shelter,” said Caitlin Fowlkes, the Kaua‘i Humane Society marketing and communications coordinator. “The Kaua‘i Humane Society is urging the community to adopt and foster shelter dogs. We’re also asking the community to hold onto animals instead of bringing them to the shelter.”
Staff and volunteers at the shelter have worked hard throughout the year to keep kennels open for sick and injured animals. Despite transferring about 500 animals off island, returning more than 350 animals to their families, and adopting out more than 1,000 pets this year alone, the 58 dog kennels at the facility are filled.
Most of the kennels have two or three dogs per kennel, and there are about 20 dogs currently in foster care.
People interested in adopting an animal can view available pets and apply for adoption at kauaihumane.org/adopting/dogs-available.
Currently, all animals who have been in the shelter for more than 100 days are free to adopt. Otherwise, adoption fees range from $25 to $150.
The Kaua‘i Humane Society can offer Zoom meet-and-greet for off-island adoptions that cost $300 to neighbor islands or the West Coast. Points beyond the West Coast are costing $500.
For community members who have the ability to house a shelter pet temporarily, the Kaua‘i Humane Society will offer all supplies needed and help match the foster volunteer with an animal that is best suited for them.
There is no time commitment involved in fostering. Ideally, a pet can stay in foster care until it gets adopted, or a minimum of two weeks.
People interested in fostering can text or call 808-631-2844, or email fosters@kauaihumane.org. More information can be found at kauaihumane.org/volunteer/foster/.
If anyone finds a stray animal, the Kaua‘i Humane Society asks them to hold onto the animal.
Some tips include:
• Walking the dog around the area in which it was found and asking if anyone recognizes the animal. Most dogs are found within 2 miles of their homes;
• Post the animal on social media, specifically on the following Facebook groups: Kaua‘i Lost and Found; Kaua‘i Community; Kaua‘i Pets, Lost N Found, Rehoming, Foster; Kaua‘i Live; Kaua‘i Craigslist; Nextdoor; and Craigslist;
• Bring the animal into the shelter, or local veterinarian to scan the pet for a microchip. If the stray animal is brought into the shelter, the KHS will scan it for a microchip to see if there is a phone number. The Kaua‘i Humane Society will then call for the owner.
KHS will ask if the finder can hold onto the animal and help find the owner, offering all the supplies needed. The shelter said fostering the animal is ideal because the more overcrowded the shelter is, the higher the risk for disease spread.
“A puppy and kitten can be safely spayed or neutered by the time they are 2 months old,” said Nicole Schafer Crane, the Kaua‘i Humane Society executive director. “Neutering curbs undesirable behavior, improves the animal’s health and keeps unwanted litters out of the shelter.”
Crane said shelters across the nation are facing similar capacity crises.
“The nation has been seeing animals, especially dogs, residing in shelters longer,” Crane said.
“The Kaua‘i Humane Society is also seeing longer lengths of stay, as adoptions are less than last year, and our shelter partners on the mainland are remaining full so they are unable to take in our animals and help them find homes outside of Kaua‘i. As many animals as the shelter finds homes for, more animals come into the shelter. The intakes continue to be higher than the outcomes, resulting in a full shelter.”
For those who need to surrender a pet, email customerservice@kauaihumane.org to see if the Kaua‘i Humane Society is able to help.
“We can offer certificates of care for landlords, low-cost veterinary care, pet supplies, kennels, leashes and pet food to those needing help,” Fowlkes said. “We will try our best to help you keep your pet with your family.”
The community is able to donate to the year-end fundraiser at https://bit.ly/KHSyearend to help the shelter continue to care for animals, find them homes and help the community keep their pets.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
