The Maui wildfires of August 8, 2023 left complete devastation in its wake, not just for people, but for animals as well.
In the days, weeks and months that followed, the community rallied around the Maui Humane Society, assisting where they could to take in, organize and repackage donations to distribute to pet owners and fosters; bringing in severely wounded or lost animals from within and around the burn zone; and taking in pets from owners whose living conditions had changed after the wildfires.
Families across the island opened their homes to foster pets so the shelter could take in those who needed critical care. At that time, 225 animals were placed in foster homes. In the two weeks after the wildfires, an additional 500 pets were placed in foster homes thanks to the community.
As the island’s only open-intake shelter, Maui Humane Society once again issues an urgent plea for temporary foster homes.
“Nearly one year after the tragic Lahaina wildfires, MHS is experiencing a ‘capacity crisis’ that needs the same level of community support as there was in August of 2023,” said MHS Director of Marketing and Communications Victoria Ivankic in a news release.
“We have exhausted all of our foster families, our shelter is at capacity and animals are coming through our doors daily. We desperately need our community to help our island’s homeless pets,” stated the release.
Wildfires continue to threaten the island and MHS is focused on planning for both shelter evacuations, should the need arise, and community evacuations, in which case pets may not have anywhere to go.
Fosters temporarily care for pets at home so that space is available at the shelter for animals who need veterinary and behavioral care. Fosters receive food, supplies, training and round-the-clock support from MHS. Anyone interested in becoming a foster can visit the MHS website or visit during open hours.
MHS is also offering $0 adoption fees for dogs and cats 6 months and older, in addition to small animals. Kittens 6 months and younger have adoption fees of $50. All adoptable dogs and cats are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations and microchipped.
MHS is also asking the community to cast a vote for its 2025 “Rescue Me” Calendar. Each vote is $1 and the top 12 vote-getters will be featured in the printed calendar. All proceeds go toward the animals at MHS.
Maui Humane Society partners with Servco Subaru Maui for an adoption event at the Servco Subaru dealership, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10.
The goal is to help pets find their “furever homes” in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires. The public is invited to interact with dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and other animals available for adoption.
Servco Subaru Maui will cover all adoption fees throughout the event and donate $100 to MHS for every attendee (one per household) who test drives a Subaru vehicle. Attendees will also receive a complimentary collapsible pet bowl (one per household).
“Maui has been deeply impacted by the wildfires, and we’re grateful to do what we can to help the displaced pets find their ‘furever homes,’” said Eric Chang, general manager of Servco Subaru Maui in a release. “One of Subaru’s core pillars is our Subaru Loves Pets Promise, and when we connected with Maui Humane Society, the need for support really hit home for us.”
Nikki Russell, chief of operations at Maui Humane Society, stated, “We are incredibly grateful for the support Servco Subaru Maui has given our pets, long before the wildfires and since. Our greatest need right now is to find loving homes for our island’s animals, and Servco Subaru Maui’s generous offer to sponsor adoption fees is instrumental in making that happen.”
The Servco Subaru Maui dealership is located at 781 Hookele Street in Kahului.
Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.
