Pet Shelters - including Hawaii Kai - Filling Up as Owners Can't Afford Care
As the economy continues in the doldrums, the number of pets being turned over to pet shelters statewide is rising to the point of serious proportions. Many of the 30 no-kill shelfters are full and still receiving requests to accept pets.
If a family is having hard times feeding itself or making its mortgage payments, they will be stressed to feed their pets. Many pets are also abandoned as homeowners give up their homes and move into smaller accommodations, many of which don't accept pets.
Adding to the shelter capacity problem is the lack of funds, as they search for funding sources both to keep a minimum level of care and to take in more pets. The Hawaii Animal Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter in Hawai'i Kai, said it used to get by with a fundraiser every quarter; now it has to do one every six weeks. Gina Lay, president of the sanctuary, said it is at capacity with about 300 animals.
Lay said four sickly kittens were found abandoned in Kawai Nui Marsh in Kailua. "The pets were microchipped and when we called the owners, they refused to take the cats back," said Lay. She hopes pet owners understand the responsibility they take on and find a way to care for their pet even when money is tight.
"We need a shift in attitude," Lay said. "Pets need to be viewed as family members and just because things are difficult doesn't mean that you can leave them behind. Pets don't know how to fend for themselves. They depend upon the humans in their family."
Rather than work out solutions separately, Lay said, a collection of animal shelters have banded together to form the Aloha Animal Alliance. They plan to lobby lawmakers next year to change laws governing renters' rights to keep pets.
Bucking the trend, the Hawaiian Humane Society hasn't seen an increase in its numbers. It reports a 21 percent drop in the number of animals surrendered in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period last year, said Kawehi Yim, Humane Society spokeswoman.
That decline, some say, is because the group charges a $25 fee for surrendering animals and $100 to put your pet up for consignment, and other shelters don't.
How can you help? If you don't have a pet, contribute time or money or both to a shelter of your choice. If you do have a pet you don't feel you can continue to care for, contact the Hawaii Humane Society or Hawaii Animal Sanctuary to discuss your options.
Barbara Abe, Realtor and pet owner
(resource: Honolulu Advertiser)