How Maui Humane Society s Foster Care Program Gave Honey Girl a Second Chance

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1 Maui Humane Society Newsletter Summer 2014 A Diamond in the Ruff : How Maui Humane Society s Foster Care Program Gave Honey Girl a Second Chance Left to Right: Honey Girl soon after she first arrived at MHS, with foster brother Zander, and wearing a bowtie, almost fully rehabilitated. Photos by foster mom Jenny Mida. With nearly 10,000 animals coming through our shelter doors every year, there are always beautiful young puppy faces, loving kitty purrs and lots of tail wags to love. And then there are what we call Diamonds in the Ruff. That would be Honey Girl, a 4-year-old pitbull mix who was found roaming in Haiku in a horrendously neglected state: emaciated, with her hips, ribs and spine protruding. She had multiple scars from a history of injuries and fur loss on her joints from countless days spent laying on concrete. Jenny Mida was volunteering as a dog walker when she first took notice of this sweet, skinny girl who sat unassuming in her kennel. As she approached, her tail began to wag and Jenny could tell that although her body may have been broken, her soul was not. They spent the next few weeks snuggling and just hanging in the grass together and Jenny realized that Honey Girl was very well trained. She was fantastic on a leash and knew multiple commands such as sit, shake (with both paws!), down, stay and come. She was affectionate, loved to give kisses, got along great with dogs and was very gentle with Jenny s 7-year-old son Zander, who volunteers with her occasionally. Although Jenny knew Honey Girl was a gem, she worried that potential adopters might not be able to look past her scars and appearance and see her inner beauty. MHS veterinary staff also felt like she would definitely benefit from being in foster care to put on some weight, grow her fur back and fully heal from her injuries. Jenny was a seasoned dog foster parent, so she agreed to foster Honey Girl for 4 to 8 weeks until she reached a healthy weight. Honey Girl was immediately accepted into Jenny s pack (Jenny has 3 dogs - 2 from MHS) and after a few days became comfortable sleeping on a soft bed and curling up on the couch with the Mida family. Time went by and Honey Girl continued to surprise Jenny with her resilience and stellar behavior - here was a dog that had been found starving and was scrounging for her next meal, but she never showed a single ounce of food aggression. She was surprisingly house-trained as well - not a single accident! It s been about 6 weeks since Honey Girl was welcomed by the Mida ohana and she has since put on about fourteen pounds. Her skin is looking much better and her spirit has come alive again! (continued on page 3) 1

2 Message from the Board Aloha and Farewell to CEO Jocelyn Bouchard The Board, staff, and employees of Maui Humane Society (MHS) recently bid a fond farewell to our CEO Jocelyn Bouchard, who left our agency on April 30 to take the position of Director of Operations at the Hawaiian Humane Society on Oahu. We have great admiration and respect for Jocelyn, who has devoted her life to the care and protection of animals and served here at MHS as a powerful advocate for Maui s animals for over two decades. Jocelyn began her animal-related career in 1984 with a Degree in Animal Health Technology and achieved the status of Certified Animal Welfare Administrator in She was appointed as MHS CEO in 2003 a time when the agency was struggling, in debt, laying off employees, cutting services, and operating only six days a week. Under Jocelyn s leadership, the agency budget doubled, the number of donors/supporters quadrupled, and MHS returned to full 7-days-a-week operations; new adoption, education, and rehabilitation programs and services were introduced; a countywide tattoo i.d. system was implemented; and our agency increased adoptions and spay/neuter, and decreased euthanasia. She was a dedicated individual, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and often responded herself to middle-of-the-night calls from the Maui Police Department for animals that were injured or in harm s way. Jocelyn Bouchard served as Maui Humane Society s CEO from 2003 to In addition to her accomplishments at MHS, she was a valuable contributing member of our island community. She served on the Maui County Board of Ethics, is a Weinberg Fellow (2005), PONO Fellow (2007), and in 2007 was named Maui s Outstanding Executive Director of a Non-Profit Organization. She is highly respected by her peers on a national level, and in 2013, The Humane Society of the United States (unrelated to the Maui Humane Society) named her to serve as the Hawaii state representative on the National Companion Animals Advisory Council. Last year, Jocelyn s reputation was instrumental in obtaining a $100,000 grant from the Baker Trust to implement a national pilot program on Maui to humanely address feral cats. There is simply no replacement for a Jocelyn Bouchard, but in coming weeks we will be welcoming a new CEO (as yet undetermined) with his/her own unique set of talents, abilities, and experiences. We hope you will join us in extending a warm aloha to them. Stay tuned! 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! JOIN US ONLINE! DID YOU KNOW? Our vet clinic spayed & neutered 2,600+ pets in the past 9 months. Our Field Officers responded to 7,039 calls in the past 9 months. We receive an average of 200 lost and found pet reports every month. We don t just care for cats and dogs. We ve received 963 other animals in the past 9 months alone! 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 and Rawhides Canned Food for kittens, puppies, cats and dogs Guinea Pig or Rabbit Fortified Pellet Food Towels Commercial Dryer 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. 2 No gift is too small and every penny helps! Thank you so much for your continued support.

3 Become a Member Show your support for Maui Humane Society by becoming an Ohana Club Member! Join Maui Humane Society s Ohana Club and help us to save lives all year long! Membership levels start at $100 and every Ohana Club Member will receive a special membership card that provides great discounts at some of your favorite local businesses! Ohana Club membership fees are annual - existing members will be sent a letter in the Fall with the option to renew membership for the following year. To join or for more information, please contact Susan at (808) ext. 34 or visit our website at: A Diamond in the Ruff : Above: Jenny s dogs Thor and Bernard (both adopted from MHS), with Honey Girl (right). (continued from page 1) Honey Girl will forever remain in the hearts of the Mida family, but soon it will be time for her to find a forever family of her own - leaving Jenny with space to foster another homeless pet in need. As a pitbull mix, Honey Girl qualifies for our Love-a-Bull adoption special ($25 off the adoption fee) which runs through the end of May. As of this article, she is available for adoption - you can inquire about her at (808) ext. 26. Maui Humane Society is always looking for help providing temporary loving homes to our homeless pets who need a little extra TLC: from puppies and kittens who need time to grow to older dogs and cats that need time to recover from injury or illness. You provide the home and the love, and Maui Humane Society provides supplies such as food, blankets, toys or medication (if needed)! Becoming a foster care volunteer is easy! Contact Foster Care Coordinator Corinne at Volunteer@MauiHumaneSociety.org or call (808) ext. 14. What do the phrases open admission, limited admission, and no-kill mean in relation to an animal shelter, and which one is Maui Humane Society? The phrase no-kill stirs up deep emotions in those of us who love animals, and it can be confusing and misleading. To better understand this concept, we must look past the emotion-packed terminology, recognize the different ways in which agencies help animals, and understand the unique challenges faced by our island community. There are basically two types of animal shelter operations across the nation: open admission and limited admission. The Maui Humane Society is the only open admission shelter on Maui, meaning we do not turn away any domestic animal that comes to our doors. We accept every animal in need, even if they are unhealthy, dangerous, or unadoptable (such as feral animals). Limited admission shelters do not accept all animals. These shelters, due to lack of space or resources, must decide which animals and how many they will accept. When their shelter is full they close their doors in order to focus care on the animals they have, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for euthanasia. Thus these types of shelters are often referred to as no kill. There are many fine shelters that call themselves no kill, just as there are many caring shelters like The Maui Humane Society that are open admission. We strongly believe there is a need for both types of shelters in meeting the needs of Maui s animals. This issue is further muddled because there is no universally accepted definition of the term no kill, therefore it varies from agency to agency. Some no-kill shelters do euthanize unhealthy, untreatable pets. In fact, some of the no-kill animal agencies on Maui bring their aged or ill animals to MHS for humane euthanasia. So no kill does not necessarily mean no euthanasia. (continued on page 4) 3

4 Can MHS Become a No Kill Shelter? (continued from page 3) Because MHS accepts all domestic animals in need, we receive many for which adoption or rehabilitation is not an option animals with a history of biting, aggression, or severe behavioral issues, major health issues due to advanced age, in uncontrollable pain or suffering, or feral cats--which make up the largest category of our euthanized animals. They are rarely adopted, and no-kill shelters will only accept them in limited numbers, if at all. The euthanasia of feral cats is a sad fact on our island right now and will remain so until the feral cat population can be controlled through other humane means. We cannot over-emphasize the need for our community to fully support Maui s ongoing Trap- Neuter-Return-Manage program for these cats, which is administered through Feline Foundation and supported by MHS. For healthy/treatable animals, our first priority is to place them into loving homes, and at MHS there are no time limits on how long an animal may stay up for adoption. However our shelter receives an average of 22 animals a day. 365 days a year. For every homeless pet that is adopted from MHS, 3 more arrive to take its place the next day. Euthanasia is not considered by MHS to be an appropriate tool to address overpopulation, but at this time it is a tragic reality due to the vast numbers of unwanted animals coming into our shelter. There are simply too many animals on the island and not enough homes. When we have no more space at our shelter for healthy animals, have exhausted all channels for possible adoption, and have no place to house them humanely, we must euthanize. Those who criticize MHS for euthanizing have so far offered no viable new alternatives as to what to do beyond what we are already doing--when there is no more space and no homes for these precious animals. We have many programs in place to save as many lives as possible, including recent additions like the Wings of Aloha program (flying pets to shelters on the mainland that will guarantee them adoption into loving homes) and the Last Resort program, which allows individuals the option to be notified if we are unable to find a home for the pet they surrendered. For those animals that may need some extra care and attention before they are adoptable, we provide veterinary care and rehabilitation (in temporary foster care) whenever possible. We offer programs aimed at both long-term and short-term solutions including a high volume spay/neuter clinic which provides over 3,000 low or no cost spay/neuter surgeries every year, many creative adoption programs, and a variety of educational programs directed at both children and adults to encourage responsible and caring pet ownership. In addition to spay/neuter for pet pregnancy prevention, we make every effort to find loving new homes for those unwanted animals that have already been born placing pets in more than 1,600 new homes each year. Some people say, I can t support an organization that encourages euthanasia. The Maui Humane Society does not encourage euthanasia. What we do encourage are adoptions, responsible pet ownership, and rehabilitation to save lives. We are familiar with Nathan Winograd s book and his no kill equation. Many members of the MHS staff and Board of Directors have read the book, and MHS participated in Winograd s no-kill conference on Maui in In recent years, we have implemented nearly all of the steps Winograd recommends, but unfortunately his no kill equation still does not add up to no kill for our community. One key point that is lacking for MHS, unlike mainland agencies, is the support from surrounding shelters. When our kennels are overflowing, we do not have the option to transfer pets to nearby shelters for adoption. We exist on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific. Our sister islands have their own overpopulation challenges. And no-kill agencies on Maui have not, thus far, been able to assist MHS in a significant way to find homes for the vast numbers of unwanted animals. In 2013, Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation took 71 animals from our shelter for adoption. We greatly appreciate that, as they assisted us in saving 71 lives. But 71 animals is three days intake for MHS. 9th Life, the no-kill cat sanctuary operated by Phyllis Tavares (an outspoken proponent of the no-kill movement), took no animals from MHS in the past year. MHS staff have referred people to the 9th Life sanctuary as a humane alternative for feral cats in past years, but they have consistently been turned away. No one wants to end euthanasia of healthy animals more than the board, staff, and volunteers at MHS. Our hope is that all animal-loving individuals and agencies on Maui will focus on working with MHS to address our island s animal overpopulation issues. The only way for our community to reduce euthanasia is to have fewer unwanted animals. Here s what everyone on Maui can do to help: Spay/neuter your pets and urge your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same; Get involved in/support the Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage program to humanely address the feral cat population; Support our efforts by donating, volunteering, adopting animals; Don t abandon or neglect your pets--if you cannot keep an animal, bring it to the Maui Humane Society where it will have a chance at adoption and receive compassionate care. We are committed to ending the euthanasia of healthy pets on Maui. We hope you will support us in these efforts! 4

5 Happy Endings: Proof that your support makes a difference! ZIGGY (formerly Chance) and SISSY (formerly Miss Harlow) Now live: Makawao When Chance first came to MHS, he was in need of some serious help. Found with a fractured leg in Waikapu, he needed extensive treatment that included x-rays, surgery, pins and TLC in a foster home. Fortunately thanks to donations to our Hope Fund, MHS was able to go above and beyond to give Chance the care he needed to restore him to his playful self. When the Welch family met Chance in our cat ohana, they immediately fell head over heels adopting him and renaming him Ziggy because of the funny way he walked as he recovered from his surgery. Deciding this playful little guy needed a pal, they came back to shelter and fell in love with an equally playful kitty named Miss Harlow. The little girl had just returned from three weeks in foster care, where she learned to live with other cats and even a Jack Russell terrier! Sissy immediately adapted to our ohana, forever mom Kari writes. We chose her name as she is Ziggy s little sister. From the moment we brought her home, Ziggy was so happy he wanted to play right away! They get along really well, and love to wrestle the day away. MOJO Now lives: Paia With Mojo s startling good looks and great manners, we were sure he would be adopted in no time. Unfortunately, his arrival coincided with that of several litters of puppies, and Mojo found himself overlooked. In spite of multiple beach outings and potential Wings of Aloha transfers, Mojo waited 99 long days for his forever family - before ending up with the best one any dog could ask for! Volunteer Linda began walking dogs at the shelter in part to cope with the loss of her own dog after 14 years of unconditional love. Mojo had already been at the shelter for over three months, and was Linda s favorite walking buddy. As Mojo s 100th day at the shelter approached, Linda decided to make it official and welcome Mojo into her family. He is the best, best dog ever! Linda wrote. He follows my everywhere like my shadow and even sleeps right at my side of the bed every night. I m so happy we adopted him. Mark Your Calendars! We ve got a lot going on in the next few months, so be sure to mark your calendars and join in on all the fun! May 1: May 10: May 26: MHS Pet Calendar Photo Contest Begins 36th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk Shelter Closed - Memorial Day June/ July: June 2: June 11: June 23: June 30: Kama aina Kitties - 2 for 1 Cat Adoptions Animal Camp - All Things Animal Shelter Closed - King Kamehameha Day Animal Camp - Weird World of Animals MHS Pet Calendar Photo Contest Ends July 4: July 28: Shelter Closed - Independence Day Animal Camp - Wild Kingdom 5

6 Honorariums & Memorials Tributes to those you love... Honoring Animals Dakota is honored by Diane M. Kornell Cookie is honored by Sue Young Asia is honored by Myriem De Givenchy-Benoliel Kimo & Petunia Mischi are honored by Andrew B. Mahaney Schotze is honored by Patricia Zook Riley & Slim are honored by Robert G. McConnell Lady & Limi is honored by Eleanor M. Martin Jake is honored by Heather Berliner Rufus is honored by Virginia Martin Nakisha & Pooh Bear are honored by Ann Fuggiasco Honoring People Bruce Curtis is honored by Van Cadenhead Jeff Holland & Jeff Zaugg are honored by Maui Surfboards Maile Ihu Kapakahi is honored by Michael R. Feeley Judith Aikawa is honored by Evelyn Schein Linda Cerullo is honored by Myrna Breitbart Judith Aikawa is honored by Sheila Schlesinger Bob Metke is honored by Amy Kiesel Tony and Theresa Beirith are honored by Christina Beirith David Easly are honored by Jason Frink Remembering Animals Benji is remembered by Paul D. Davis Benji is remembered by Jan Tompkins Benji is remembered by Carolyn M. Shaefer Emma is remembered by Paul D. Davis Rusty Hamai is remembered by Aline H. Rolaff Benji Willett is remembered by Coralie Willett Maggie is remembered by Carol Quinlan Sammy is remembered by Tina Raska Lucy Behn is remembered by Mary V. Jenks Kalani is remembered by Jessica Reed Benji is remembered by Diane M. Kornell Tiger Boy, Sonny Boy & Michael are remembered by Socorro B. Sinfuego Benji is remembered by Sheila Rutherford Whistle is remembered by Mary V. Jenks Kekoa is remembered by Trudy Williams Benji is remembered by Judith Aikawa Benji is remembered by Jacobi Family Foundation Keko is remembered by Eveline J. Hyder Keko & Koa are remembered by Sibet H. Alspaugh Tuttie is remembered by Kathleen M. Lee Hoku is remembered by Shirley Sakamoto Mabe is remembered by Allison Sudder Cody is remembered by Linda Swanson Fritz is remembered by Melissa Panzarini Fenway is remembered by Jane Brown Kinky Cat is remembered by Carolyn Damon Ebony is remembered by Gary & Donna Less Sammy is remembered by Mary Molina Remembering People (continued on page 7) Joseph Scuro is remembered by Virginia Shaw Dan Shafer is remembered by Joan Brashem Nancy DeBoer is remembered by Nancy Barnes Alan Wilson is remembered by Nancy Barnes Douglas Rogers is remembered by Dixie McDonald Daniel Shafer is remembered by Nina Gough **The Honorariums and Memorials included here are those we have received by 31 Mar 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 Susie Thiemen Shannon Imlay Laura Forsythe 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. Anonymous Visit to find out how these local businesses help Maui s Homeless Pets! Mahalo to Our Kennel Sponsors! Anonymous Animal Lover: Whoever said you can t buy happiness never adopted a shelter dog. Carolyn Damon: In loving memory of Fluff, the greatest cat this world has ever known. Carolyn Ferro: In loving memory of Trigg and Sasha, the greatest cats in the world. Central Pacific Bank Cheryl Iseberg and Robert Nay CK Landscapes Maui, Inc.: With love always from Leila and Chloe. Commercial Properties of Maui Management, Inc.: In Memory of Julio. David & Andrea Hayes: With Mahalo to MHS and honoring Nani (MHS Alum) and Limerick. Expeditions: The Maui-Lanai Passenger Ferry Leis Family Foundation: In honor of all the pets we ve loved during our 67 years of marriage. Mason & Trudy Williams: In Loving Memory of Abbey and Kayla. 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! Da Kitchen Hosts Valentine s Day Event in Waikiki to Benefit MHS Our friends at Da Kitchen generously donated 100% of the proceeds from their Valentine s Day pop-up event, held at the Crown in Waikiki to the Maui Humane Society - raising $2500 to provide care and comfort to some of the thousands of homeless pets that come through our doors. A BIG MAHALO to Da Kitchen for supporting the good work we do for Maui s pets and people! Remembering People (continued from page 6) Robert Matsushita is remembered by Cliff Matsuo Ken Gierschner is remembered by Irma Gierschner 7 Mehling Ohana: Tango, Maui, Makani, Maile, and Bruce. Rain Pro Roof Company, LLC: In memory of Miss Molly. Shannon Rasmussen: In honor of Eric, Breton, and Alex Wills, with Love from Mom. Tere Patterson and Motoki: In loving memory of my husband, Jim Kimo Patterson and Lakota Wailea Builders: Building for all of Maui, from Makena to Paia to Kula and Beyond. Would you like to join our kennel sponsorship program? When you become a sponsor, a personalized plaque will be placed on your choice of either a dog or cat kennel for one year with 100% of proceeds benefitting the homeless pets of MHS. For more information, please contact Jenny at (808) or visit and select Sponsor a kennel on the Ways to Give menu bar.

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