Let’s start with the good news: Hawaii Island Humane Society and its rescue partners have already eliminated nearly all euthanasia of healthy dogs and non-feral cats that arrive at our three shelters islandwide.
Back in 2011, the society’s board members established our goal of adopting all adoptables as its strategic initiative. Our collective work has reduced euthanasia of adoptable pets by 86 percent over the past four years – from 1,183 in 2012 to 162 in 2015. Our goal of 100 percent is within reach and we are striving to find homes for all 3,000-plus adoptable pets this year, and 3,000 more homes for every year that follows.
Seven rescue partners have stepped forward to help Hawaii Island reach this goal. We are confident that animals leaving our shelters are in good hands with suitable oversight in place through our formal rescue partnership agreements. We are thankful for the dedication and support received from rescue partners.
Hawaii Island Humane Society employs two expert doctors of veterinary medicine and a third doctor of veterinary medicine provides oversight and governance as a volunteer board member. We believe it is of the utmost importance to have trained, compassionate professionals determining best practices and shelter standards for our protocols.
With nearly all healthy, adoptable pets adopted out by island residents and our rescue partner organizations here and on the mainland, Hawaii Island Humane Society is working to make further progress with arriving pets classified as treatable. What’s a treatable condition? There are many and include conditions such as ringworm, heartworm, seizures, allergies, mange and also those pets that are under 8 weeks old.
Our commitment to increase the number of treatable animals hinges on the availability of resources including specialized veterinary care and foster families capable of caring for recovering animals, some with very special needs.
Hawaii Island Humane Society fundraises year-round to provide funding required for adoptions, veterinary care for non-evidence animals, rescue partnership programs, humane education, our spay neuter surgeries and to help treatable animals through our Second Chance Fund. Expenses for these essential programs are not paid for by public funding, rather through the generosity of caring individuals.
Concerned residents ask us what needs to change to reduce euthanasia. Decreasing the number of unwanted animals immediately is how we turn things around. “Accidental” litters, the laundry baskets that arrive filled with kitties or puppies, are the single largest factor in pet overpopulation on our island.
We cannot adopt our way out of pet overpopulation, but we absolutely can prevent these unwanted litters with spay neuter.
Let’s face it, we live on an island and, as large as it is, our island cannot support over 10,000 unwanted animals every year. The solution? Spay. Neuter. Fix the problem.
Last year, Hawaii Island Humane Society veterinarians performed a record number of 4,746 spay/neuter surgeries. We also distributed another 900 free and/or discount coupons for spay/neuter services with private veterinarians on island.
Do you have a pet that needs spay/neuter surgery? Does your neighbor? There are several free and discounted spay/neuter programs available. Bighearted donors help us offset surgical costs. Please call or come by one of our shelters to learn about options that are a good fit for your needs.
Geography is a factor. Our more rural, underserved communities of Puna, Kau and Kohala need more spay/neuter services. In response, Hawaii Island Humane Society held our first high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic in Keaau that successfully fixed 331 pets in one week. Volunteers from the community and from locations around the world worked together to make this happen. We will be doing more clinics in other locations around the island and we will keep you informed once schedules are confirmed.
And let’s finish up with the best news: we – you and I – can solve pet overpopulation on Hawaii Island without euthanasia by scheduling your puppy, kitty, cat or dog for spay neuter surgery today.
Adam Atwood is the Hawaii Island Humane Society president and Donna Whitaker is the Hawaii Island Humane Society executive director
My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not of West Hawaii Today
