After a difficult year, the holidays have created more momentum for animal adoptions at the Hawaii Island Humane Society.
The HIHS has been hosting events and promoting its programs to help get more dogs and cats adopted, but is on track to have fewer adoptions and more animal intakes this year, which is a trend across the nation.
“We are trending similarly to many shelters across the nation, as dog intakes continue to go up with (fewer) positive outcomes, like returning to owners, adoptions and mainland transfers,” said CEO Lauren Nickerson. “We value every single placement we have, and an adoption is a celebration every time. At HIHS, we’re lucky to have the resources to care for these animals for as long as they need us.”
Last Friday was bustling at the Keaau shelter as many people finalized adoptions or found a foster-to-adopt pet in time to take advantage of waived fees thanks to the Bissell Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters program, which ended Sunday.
“I’m cautiously optimistic as we see some momentum for the first time in a while,” Nickerson said. “It’s exciting to see different pets get attention.”
In 2022, HIHS had 1,016 adoptions, 1,552 spay or neuter procedures, and 1,285 animals coming into the shelter.
Adoption is the main goal for HIHS. When one animal finds a home, one animal from Hawaii County Animal Control and Protective Agency can immediately come in to take its place.
“It’s hard when you have animals living in the shelter for a long time, but we have been using that time to get to know them as individuals and make more meaningful matches,” Nickerson said. “However, we know a shelter is not a home, and we want them in loving, safe homes as soon as possible. But as long as they need us, we’re here for them.”
HIHS and the Hawaii County Animal Control and Protective Agency, or ACPA, have been developing a partnership for over three years to find the best way to support the stray animals around the island.
HIHS currently monitors both Animal Control shelters to find the animals that would make for great adoptions. Nickerson said she also keeps an eye out on social media to see if any dogs or cats at the shelters match missing pets around the island.
“Our partnership has grown stronger than ever, which is good, because the need on this island is so great and bigger than any singular agency,” Nickerson said. “It’s important to share resources and focus on what we can do versus what other rescues can do versus what Animal Control can do.”
As of last Friday, HIHS was housing 42 dogs at the Keaau shelter and 30 dogs at the Animal Community Center in Kona. In Keaau, some dogs have been waiting for their permanent homes since May.
Canines Buddy and SpaghettiOs have similar stories, as they both came to HIHS in May and are young, playful, smart and sweet boys, according to shelter staff. Buddy came to the shelter as a puppy and is the last of his litter to be adopted.
Bluey, who is commonly seen on HIHS social media, was adopted from the Kona shelter but was returned to the Animal Community Center in July and has recently moved to the Keaau shelter.
“Some dogs tend to get overlooked, so there are a couple I want to shout out since they are our longest stays,” Nickerson said. “One thing we are cognizant of is the mental well-being of our animals, so we do our best to allow dogs to get out of their kennels with our enrichment programs at least once a day.”
Many playful, young dogs are located at the Keaau shelter because it has a more robust play program. The Animal Community Center’s dog play area is under construction, but the dogs staying in Kona still get plenty of playtime.
Along with play programs that help staff get to know each dog, HIHS also offers a Field Trip program to give dogs the opportunity to decompress and have fun with volunteers outside of the shelter.
On Saturday, HIHS hosted a puppy adoption event at Petco in Hilo, and all eight were adopted. These events began over a year ago and will continue next year once or twice a month.
“The idea came from pure desperation as there were so many puppies in our shelters and at Animal Control. We needed a way for the public to see them,” Nickerson said. “It’s also our way of reminding people that we are still here, and we have so many wonderful animals up for adoption.”
HIHS also has been able to transfer dogs and cats to its partner organizations on the mainland, which gives them more chances to find “forever homes.” Last week, seven dogs were transferred to the Seattle Humane Society, and 12 puppies from Animal Control went to a new partner in Oakland, Calif.
While dog adoptions waiver in consistency, cat adoptions have been more balanced at both shelters, according to Nickerson.
“There truly is so much you can do here at HIHS. You can find a new best friend, volunteer, learn about our programs, get your pet spayed and neutered at a discounted cost,” Nickerson said. “There is never a dull moment at the humane society, and we hope more people stop by to see this great variety of animals.”
HIHS is always looking for volunteers and foster families. There are no minimum requirements or set schedules for volunteering.
“We are trying to make ourselves as accessible as possible, and we’re only as strong as the people who support us,” Nickerson said. “We have a wide variety of pets that would be amazing future family members. They are all so friendly, social, and just want to be with people.”
For more information about adopting, fostering, volunteering, donating or learning more about HIHS and its programs, visit hihs.org.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.