Shelter Pup Sunny Gets Her Chance to Shine: How the Foster Care Program at MHS is Saving Lives and Bringing Families Together for Maui s Pets

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1 Maui Humane Society Newsletter Winter 2013 Shelter Pup Sunny Gets Her Chance to Shine: How the Foster Care Program at MHS is Saving Lives and Bringing Families Together for Maui s Pets (Above) Sunny when she first arrived at the shelter in July, and after spending about 10 weeks in foster care with the Reale ohana and their Forever dogs, Kissy and Buzz. Dog number F5, now named Sunny, arrived at Maui Humane Society in July in a sorry state. Covered in fleas and nearly hairless due to a long neglected case of mange, our staff was amazed by the positive attitude and friendly demeanor of this dog. She knew she had come to the right place for help, and showed us her gratitutde with happy tail wags and loving kisses, despite what must have been a lot of pain and discomfort. We knew we needed a foster home willing to give this sweet girl a second chance, and that s where volunteer Jody and her family came in. By opening their home and hearts to a dog in need they had the opportunity to literally save her life. See what Jody has to say about Sunny, and check out Sunny s blog at mauidog.wordpress.com! This is Sunny: A 30-something pound package of playfulness all wrapped up in shiny black and white fur. It wasn t always that way for Sunny, though. When she arrived at the Maui Humane Society she was a hairless mess! After having been tied up and abandoned in Kahului, mange and other parasites ravaged her skin and coat, but despite the painful scabs, scratches and blisters that covered her little body, she met each new person at the shelter with joyful wiggles and wags. That s why her foster family named her Sunny she was happy and bright no matter what. Since getting the veterinary and basic care she needed in a foster home, Sunny has made an amazing transformation. Not only did she grow a beautiful sleek coat, she learned good manners and basic commands. She still loves meeting new people, and enjoys the company of other dogs, especially if they enjoy playing as much as she does. Some of Sunny s favorite things to do are to play fetch, take long walks, chase lizards, chew bones and follow her friends and family around the house and yard, preferably with a stuffed toy in her mouth. Sunny s natural appreciation for life is contagious, whether she s hanging out with friends of all ages, or catching plenty of snuggle time on the couch. If you re looking for a friendly, adorable companion who is rearing to be the president of your fan club, Sunny may just be the girl for you! If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Sunny, please call (808) ext. 26 or Adoptions@MauiHumaneSociety.org 1

2 Message from our CEO Jocelyn Bouchard, CAWA This is the time of year when we all get busy with holiday traditions. Friends, food, and other social activities top the list and it can be equal parts stress and celebration as calendars fill up and wallets empty. Of course, gift giving is a tradition many of us participate in--whether you have a long list or a short one many of our celebrations include a gift exchange of some sort. With that in mind, we think that you might have someone on your list that has everything. You know, that one person who is sooooooo difficult to buy for! We have a suggestion that we hope is helpful - please consider a donation to our shelter in honor of that special (and possibly hard to buy for) animal lover in your life. If you do, we will send a holiday card to that person letting them know a donation was made in their name and that because of them we will be able to do that much more to help pets in need. At the Maui Humane Society we are blessed to get gifts all year long from people like you. So from our ohana to yours, Happy Holidays and MAHALO for your compassion for Maui s animals! JOIN US ONLINE! Sign up for our e-newsletter to keep up with what s happening at MHS! Just scan the QR code to receive happy endings and get the low down on fun events and special promotions! DID YOU KNOW? Providing temporary care, love, and TLC to a homeless pet literally saves lives. As a Foster Parent you get to play a crucial role in caring for an animal in need until they are ready to find their forever home. Since our last newsletter: Our Foster Parents provided a total of 1,247 days of foster care, often for multiple animals. 25 MHS employees and volunteers opened their homes to a foster pet Foster Parents gave loving care to 5 dogs and 161 cats The more Foster Homes we have, the more lives we can save! If you are interested in becoming a foster pet parent please contact our Foster Coordinator Corinne at (808) ext. 14 or Volunteer@MauiHumaneSociety.org WISH LIST Below are items that will greatly help us do more for the animals. Please consider sending an extra donation or gifting an item or two from the list below. If you own a business or have special skills or services and can offer assistance for special projects, please call Jerleen at (808) ext 32. ANIMAL CARE SUPPLIES: Large - Kuranda Pet Beds (from Easy Walk Harnesses - all sizes (for Dog Walking Program) Leashes - all sizes (for Dog Walking Program) Jerky Treats Kong Dog Toys Canned Food for kittens, puppies, cats and dogs Guinea Pig or Rabbit Fortified Pellet Food Towels Pet Pantry Items ~ cat and dog food, litter, treats Our Pet Pantry items are donated to needy families around the island to help them feed their pets. No gift is too small and every penny helps! Thank you so much for your continued support. 2

3 From Raj to Riches: One Lucky Pup s Happy Ending When Raj came to MHS after being found abandoned near a waterfall, he automatically won us all over. After over 80 days at the shelter and even a chance as the Pet of the Week, he was still waiting for his Happy Ending. Then on his 83rd day at the shelter, Raj took a plane ride that changed his life forever. One of the most meaningful ways you can contribute to our shelter is by sponsoring a kennel. When you become a sponsor, a personalized plaque will be placed on your choice of either a dog or cat kennel for one year. Plaques can be personalized in your name, your company s name, or in honor or memory of a beloved family member, special friend, or cherished pet. Your plaque will be seen by the thousands of people who visit our shelter annually. In addition, you ll have the pride of knowing that you are supporting an organization that protects and cares for thousands of homeless animals each year! Kennel sponsorships are available for $1,200 per year. Payments can be made monthly ($100/ month) or annually. By sponsoring a kennel, you help us offer a second chance to homeless pets, providing them with shelter, health care, and the opportunity to be adopted into a permanent, loving home. Your gift of sponsorship is also taxdeductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A limited number of kennels are available for sponsorship, so reserve yours today! For more information, please contact our Donor Relations Coordinator at (808) or visit As a Wings of Aloha candidate, he was picked to go to Tender Care Rescue in the Portland area to find a forever family, and boy did he! Raj, now named Prefontaine, is so loved by his new family that they contacted us to gather information for a documentary they are making about him! Therese, his new mom, was strangely drawn to the Tender Care website in early April and immediately fell in love. I knew then he was the one, she wrote us. The first words hubby heard when he woke up were I found our puppy! Let s go get him. I d made up my mind. And so it was. Later that morning we were on the road to Vancouver, WA, 30 mins. north of P-town. When I saw Raj, touched his paw for the first time and looked into his eyes, I felt love. I just wanted to take him in my arms but we had paperwork to fill out first. So we did -- with snot and tears running down our faces and one hand holding his paw. That day Raj was born in our hearts and found a forever home. We gave him a new name, Prefontaine -- fitting for his courageousness, resilience, tenaciousness and charisma. Everything you guys said about Pre is so true. He has a heart of gold with a great sense of humor. He s extremely loving, patient, beyond smart and loves to learn. Yes, he s also a chick magnet! His vet and her assistants; Pre s trainer, all the ladies at day care, proclaimed their LOVE for him at first sight. When we re out for walks, we can t go a couple blocks without him being petted and praised. He s got swagga, a handsome face and a remarkably calm temperament to match. He is PERFECT. Learn more about the Wings of Aloha program by visiting Won t You Give Hazel (#53) a Helping Paw? Cat #53 Hazel is a stunning young lady with big beautiful green eyes! Sadly she was given to us on 02/23/13 when her owners didn t want her anymore. She is a very playful gal who gets along with everyone and everything (dogs included) and because of this we selected her to go be the greeter at South Shore Veterinary Clinic in Kihei while she waits to find her forever home! Hazel loves when the folks toss her kitty crunchies around the office so she can run, pounce on them, and eat them! She also adores playing in those cool toys called paper bags! Although she s been at South Shore Vet since March, for some reason this beautiful 1-year-old is still waiting for her forever family to come along. So if you are looking for an entertaining cutie who s already spayed to add joy to your world, then Hazel is just the happy-go-lucky gal for you! If you or someone you know is interested in meeting Hazel, please call (808) ext. 26 or Adoptions@MauiHumaneSociety.org. 3

4 Happy Endings Proof that your support makes a difference! MAILE (formerly Missy Girl) Now lives: Kihei BOB Now lives: Makawao When Missy Girl first showed up at the shelter as a stray from Wailuku on 07/05/13 we were sure we d get this pretty lady back home or in a new one in days. When no one came for her, we put her up for adoption and found she had some health problems during her check up. At 7 years old, with cloudy eyes and worn teeth, most folks felt they wouldn t be able to give her the life she needed. Well, what she needed showed up after 49 days and they were called the Perin Family! They saw what an incredibly loving and fun lady she still was and knew she had to be a member of their ohana. Now she s called Maile and is clearly having a blast with her Forever Family as you can see. Maile s Forever Mom says, Maile (Missy Girl) is such a loving sweet soul. From the moment she moved into our house she moved into our hearts. She is so well behaved and such a joy. My mother is terrified of large dogs, but she calls Maile her therapy dog because she helps ease her anxieties towards dogs. When I went to Maui Humane Society to adopt a forever friend, I never imagined I would find the perfect dog! MANNY Now lives: Wailuku When Bob first showed up at MHS in April he was quite thin with a severe upper respiratory infection that required 2 weeks of treatment. Luckily our Vet Staff were happy to do it as he had won them all over with his cuddly personality and adorable bob tail! For months he sat here, taking new kittens under his wing, snuggling with volunteers and visitors and dreaming of the day his Forever family would finally come. Staff noticed he would get depressed at times, so we tried all kinds of remedies including making a harness and taking him to explore outside of the Cat Building. Well, 2 Pet of the Week stories and 182 days later his day finally came. Thanks to a pawsome Volunteer in the Cat Ohana, Bob was able to share his story and get his cuddle time on with a lovely family that quickly fell head over heels for him. We re so happy we found him! his Forever family writes: He s fitting right in and we were so lucky that he was still there waiting for us to adopt him at 182 days. Thank you to everyone at the Maui Humane Society for taking such good care of him. When Manny came in to MHS from Makawao on 08/07/13 we were glad she had a tattoo so we could get her home right away. What we didn t expect was her mommy Victoria s response when we called her. See, Manny had been missing from Wailuku for over 18 months! Racing down here as soon as she could, Victoria was overjoyed to get her sweet girl home again. She wasn t the only one to miss sweet Manny; as you can see from the picture her buddy Poppy was so happy to see her she couldn t help but cover her in kisses. When we called Victoria for an update she was glad to share that Manny has put on the weight she had lost, in fact she is not shy about asking for her bowl to be refilled either. Victoria also wanted us the share that she is very grateful for the tattoo that Manny received at the same time as her spay surgery here; it was that small detail that helped her get back home the very same day she was found. Now Manny spends her nights sleeping close and tight by her mommy s side and likes to stay right at home with her family where she knows she belongs! 4

5 Volunteer Spotlight: Ronnie Massin Volunteers are extremely valuable members of our Maui Humane Society ohana. They provide love, attention, and affection to our community s homeless pets. In addition to hands on work with the animals here at the shelter, our volunteers help in so many different ways. We couldn t do all that we do without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Ronnie Massin has made a big impact in her short time as a volunteer at MHS. Ronnie moved to Maui recently from Virgina with her two rescue cats Puddy Tat and Tweety Bird, both seventeen years old! When it comes to helping out around the shelter Ronnie does it all; she s a wonderful presence in our Cat Ohana, giving our adoptable kitties care and cuddles, while playing a big part in finding them their new forever homes. Ronnie also spends lots of time with our shelter dogs, taking them for walks and reinforcing positive behavior here at the shelter, as well as being a regular member of our weekend beach outing team. On many weekends you can find Ronnie and her favorite dog out at our local beaches, strutting their stuff and making a great impression on everyone they meet. MHS Volunteer Ronnie with shelter pup Leila during a Canine Beach Outing. Being an animal lover came later in life to Ronnie, who realized that animals were her calling while volunteering with the Peace Corps in West Africa. It was spending time with the pets of her fellow Peace Corps volunteers that encouraged Ronnie to pursue a career as an animal caretaker after years of experience in the entertainment industry. A dog walker and pet sitter by profession, Ronnie still finds time to dedicate nearly sixty hours a month to our shelter pets! In addition to spending hands on time with the animals, Ronnie helps all over the shelter with administrative tasks, as well as with outreach and fundraising events in the community. The thing that Ronnie finds most rewarding as a volunteer is the ability to help one of her favorite animals find their new forever home. By talking to potential adopters and assisting in making the perfect match, she has a big impact on adoptions in our Cat Ohana. She also loves spending time every Sunday here at the shelter, training, socializing and having fun with our dogs as a part of a team with the many new friends she s met in the volunteer program. Ronnie would suggest that anyone who might be interested in volunteering should come to the shelter for a visit. Spend a few hours with the animals, she says. They should also talk to the wonderful, dedicated staff, and ask questions about what makes their work so rewarding. It s all about the animals and making their lives more pleasant during the time they are here, waiting for their forever homes! Our MHS Ohana is truly lucky to have passionate, dedicated volunteers like Ronnie who help make our shelter a great place to be, for both pets and people! For more information about volunteering at Maui Humane Society, please contact our Volunteer and Events Coordinator Corinne by calling (808) ext. 14 or ing Volunteer@MauiHumaneSociety.org. Text: Mark Your Calendars! ALOHA to and make a $ You can t take them all home, but you can still show them where your heart is. Messaging & Data Rates May Apply. Nov. 23 & Dec. 7, 2013: Santa Paws is coming back to town! Get your holiday card-worthy photo taken with your pet and help homeless pets this holiday season. Winter Break: Animal Camp Animal Camp will be offered at a daily rate this holiday season. Call (808) ext. 20 for details! 5

6 Honorariums & Memorials Tributes to those you love... Honoring Animals Keoki is honored by George N. Kaya Benji Willet and Blackie Hill are honored by Janis Von Thaden Tina and Tasha are honored by Doree M. Kane Lillinoe and Bunny Boy are honored by Robin Duarte Koji is honored by Derrick Yu Pickles is honored by Van A. Cadenhead Ruffles is honored by Susan Watanabe Heidi is honored by Helen Bergman & David Haferman Honoring People Phil Fuhrman is honored by Ann Burkhalter Jaclyn Marie Gasso is honored by Robert Gasso Joy Nelson is honored by Nancy Sutherland Ellen Andrews is honored by Robin West Grant Shoemaker & Stephanie Brown are honored by Stacy Small Alex Wills is honored by Shannon E. Rasmussen Dr. Miyo Kim is honored by Van A. Cadenhead Sanford Chang is honored by Patricia Chang Remembering Animals Samantha Sue, Sweetness and Popoki Sr.... are remembered by Joseph E. Scuro Teaser is remembered by Linda L. Curb Hulkster is remembered by Zack Kerr Kekoa is remembered by Paul Moreno Roxie Bendon is remembered by Susan K. Bendon Kea is remembered by Colleen Protzman Zazzazou is remembered by Patricia A. Montaperto Frankie and Patrick are remembered by Helen Bergman Mr. Bitts and Elua Sheehan are remembered by Laureen Kaneta Halo is remembered by Sandra Clifton-Klickovich Riley is remembered by Lynn Williams Jack is remembered by Candy A. Aluli Teddy is remembered by Carolyn M. Schaefer Jack is remembered by Paul D. Davis Princess and Harley are remembered by Michael S. Downing Rusti Hamai is remembered by Aline H. Rolaff Mikai is remembered by Kristina Dixon Remembering People Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Steven Raymond Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by The Mind s Eye Interior Inc. Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Lynn Williams Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by William G. Soares Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Roy K. Katsuda Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Jay Moore Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Althea Viernes Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by Elaine Masotti Lorraine Laconetti is remembered by William Gintling Terry Clayton is remembered by Blair Kitkowski Terry Clayton is remembered by Adele H. Sumida Terry Clayton is remembered by John Molina Terry Clayton is remembered by Susie Saunders Terry Clayton is remembered by Francis Ort Lindsey Lufkin is remembered by Marcia L. Lufkin Betty Durkin is remembered by Tony Long Lori Oura is remembered by Alan Oura Walter and John are remembered by Ruthie Sheridan Dr. Ted Behrmann is remembered by Gail L. Legg Melanie Leroy is remembered by Jean M. Esposito **The Honorariums and Memorials included here are those we have received by 15 Oct We apologize if we have inadvertently omitted an entry. If you notice we have, please contact us at (808) x 34 or Donate@MauiHumaneSociety.org and we will ensure it to appear in our next newsletter.** 6 P.O. Box 1047 Pu unene, Hawaii t: f: info@mauihumanesociety.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judy Aikawa, MD - Board Chair Candy Aluli 1 st Vice Chair/ Secretary Leigh Drewry 2nd Vice Chair Robert Kawahara, CPA Treasurer Directors David Cain, Esq. Mary Jane Kramer Don Mehling, CFA Susie Thiemen Lianne Yoshida, SPHR Laura Forsythe Dr. Ben Benander, DVM Open 7 days a week Visit the animals 11a - 4p daily PHONE EXTENSIONS Chief Executive Officer Accounting Volunteers Special Events Donations Education Program Emergencies

7 Support Businesses Who Support MHS, Our Animal Aloha Partners! Local businesses who work with MHS to make a difference in the lives of Maui's homeless pets. The Animal Aloha Program is a community collaboration between local businesses and Maui Humane Society- working together in a mutually beneficial way to provide care, support and new homes for Maui's orphaned pets. Mahalo to Our #1 Business Supporter: Maui Brewing Company! Did you know that dining at Maui Brewing Company helps Maui s homeless pets? Half the profits from their beer battered onion rings are donated to MHS; it s the most delicious deal on the island! We are so grateful to co-owners and husband-wife team Garrett Marrero and Melanie Oxley, pictured here with their beloved Sofie, an MHS alum, and sweet Bella, a blue-nose pitbull who they rescued off the highway. Their generosity has immensely helped our shelter animals. We wanted to know what inspires them to help MHS, so we sat down with Melanie to find out! Originally from Maine, Melanie credits her love of animals to her upbringing with her mother, who is also a fellow animal lover. Melanie and her brother grew up with animals constantly around: dogs, cats, birds, fish even pot belly pigs! They rescued many of their animals from the local humane society as it was always about saving a life that didn t have a home. Melanie and Garrett now continue that tradition and support multiple animal welfare groups on the island including MHS. In addition to their dedication to animals, they have a strong commitment to the local economy and environment: they source as many local products as possible, use eco-friendly material, and the spent grain is given to local farmers for feed and compost, which all contributes to local sustainability. To enjoy their handcrafted ales and lagers brewed with Aloha, visit the Maui Brewing Co. in the Kahana Gateway Center, 4405 Honoapiilani Highway #217 in Lahaina (Phone: ). And if you visit during their happy hour from 3-6pm, remember that nothing goes better with beer than their beer battered onion rings and the warm fuzzy feeling of helping homeless pets! Cheers! Visit to find out how these local businesses help Maui s Homeless Pets! Do YOU own or work for a compassionate business that loves animals? If so, we invite you to join our Animal Aloha program! To learn about this mutually rewarding program and its promotional benefits, please contact our Donor Relations Coordinator at (808) or DonorRelations@mauihumanesociety.org. Mahalo! 7

8 Look inside for the latest edition of Maui Humane Society s quarterly newsletter: Maui Humane Society PO Box 1047 Pu unene, HI MauiHumaneSociety.org (808) Non-profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #24 Pu unene, HI