Maui Humane Society continues to keep island animals safe, happy and healthy.The Maui Humane Society (MHS) has operated in Maui since 1953. Today, the organization provides a myriad of services to the community and for Maui’s homeless pets. A nonprofit organization, MHS has a contract with the County of Maui to provide animal control services, which allows enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and a compassionate staff of 43 who provide care and assistance to the island’s displaced animals.
While the county pays for the animal control arm, it contributes only a portion of the total costs to run the shelter and provide veterinary care. According to CEO Jocelyn Bouchard, “We depend heavily on the generosity of donors to assist in not only running the shelter, but in hiring and maintaining veterinary staff, treating injured animals, providing animal foster care, and educating the community.”
Bouchard explained, “MHS is an ‘open facility,’ so we must take all animals brought to our facility. We can’t pick or choose from the injured, the sick, or the unadoptable.” While some rescues and sanctuaries are able to close their doors when capacity is reached, she said, “We do not have that option.”
In addition to dogs and cats, MHS also provides shelter to ducks, chickens, geese, pigs, rabbits and even guinea pigs. In fact, MHS houses about 10,000 animals a year…and receives an average of 24 new animals a day!
In spite of the overwhelming numbers, the organization is making headway in its mission to save lives and provide new homes for our companion animals. In the past four years, over 15,000 pets were spayed or neutered, 7,000 found new homes and an additional 2,523 were reunited with their owners. Last year, euthanasia numbers were down for both cats and dogs. Hopefully, this is a trend that will continue.
MHS, along with other Hawai‘i Humane Societies, ascribes to the Asilomar Accords Philosophy. In 2004, a group of animal welfare industry leaders gathered at Asilomar Ranch in Pacific Grove, Calif. Rich Avanzo, a member of the group, succinctly stated, “The assembled groups held a variety of viewpoints on how best to help the animals, yet we have all agreed that the most effective way to save the lives of all healthy and treatable animals in the shortest amount of time was to work together.”
No matter what the differences in policy or opinion may be, two common themes, or guiding principals, are collaboration and mutual respect. MHS works with a number of other organizations, including Maui Animal Rescue Sanctuary, East Maui Animal Refuge, Hawai‘i Canines for Independence and the Feline Foundation. While each may have a different method, all work collaboratively toward the common goal of saving the lives of companion animals.
Feral cats, according to Bouchard, are a problem on Maui and represent a significant number of the total cats coming into the shelter. Partnering with the Feline Foundation of Maui, MHS has provided spay/neuter programs and other types of support for feral cats in colony situations. A related problem is the “neighborhood cat,” fed by everyone but claimed by no one. Jocelyn refers to this cat as the “gateway cat.” Perhaps it is someone’s abandoned pet, and if it isn’t neutered or spayed, he or she only adds to the feral problem. You can help by bringing the “neighborhood cat” to MHS to be neutered or spayed. This service is free and many feline lives will be saved.
Help the MHS spread compassion and respect for Maui’s animals by being a responsible pet owner. Pets are beloved members of the family, and to keep them safe and healthy, make sure your pet is neutered or spayed, provide supervision when necessary and schedule regular visits to your veterinarian. For help with specific problems or to report cruelty issues, don’t hesitate to call MHS.
In addition to spay/neuter certificates, mobile adoptions, licensing and early quarantine release, MHS also provides presentations and shelter tours for schools and groups. This month’s special event is Bark in “da” Park, a walk for the animals, on Saturday, Aug. 23. For more information, visit the Maui Humane Society Website at www.mauihumanesociety.org or call 877-3680.