When Dr. Rebecca Rhoades became the executive director of the Kaua’i Humane Society last summer, she took on the task of making the new $3 million dollar animal shelter in Kipu operate efficiently. Five months later, her efforts have led
When Dr. Rebecca Rhoades became the executive director of the Kaua’i Humane Society last summer, she took on the task of making the new $3 million dollar animal shelter in Kipu operate efficiently.
Five months later, her efforts have led to more adoptions, an improved spay-neuter program, progress toward the opening of a quarantine center, and establishment of the facility as the nation’s first emergency shelter for people and pets, said Laura Wiley, president of the local Humane Society board.
With Rhoades, a veterinarian who has been part of a national evaluation team for animal shelters for the U.S. Humane Society, the Kaua’i shelter could become one of the best animal care facilities in the nation, say shelter officials.
“To have someone of her caliber there is a miracle,” Wiley said.
Pet owners moving to Hawai’i must either leave their animals at the state Department of Agriculture’s quarantine center on O’ahu for four months, or for only a month if the quarantine process is begun earlier.
The in-state quarantine period will be more manageable for newly arrived Kaua’i pet owners once a quarantine center opens here, possibly by Dec. 1 after gaining Department of Agriculture approval, Wiley said.
Dogs and cats will be kept in kennels. The quarantine center, unlike the one on Oahu, will have exercise areas for animals.
To top off efforts to establish an emergency shelter for humans and pets, the Contractors Association of Kaua’i has provided free labor and supplies to fortify windows and doors at the facility, Wiley said.
The American Red Cross supports the animal/pets shelter, which requires government approval before it can open.
“The federal government has said that people get injured or are fatally injured during emergencies beause they don’t want to leave their pets during disasters. That won’t happen here,” Wiley said. “The people will be in the basement and their pets will be safe in crates in the hallway.”
Rhoades also said the Humane Society’s spay-neuter program, “booked solid this year,” is a success. From July to September, 717 sterilizations were done, as opposed to 385 operations for the same period last year, she said.
For fiscal year 2000-01, 1,963 sterilizations were performed. With stepped-up efforts to control the animal population, the number is likely to be as high or higher in the future, Rhoades said.
The Humane Society, partially funded by Kaua’i County, has budgeted more than $60,000 (supplemented by public contributions) for the spay-neuter program.
Because of demand, the program will be expanded with financial help from the community, Rhoades said.
The Humane Society also plans to work with island veterinarians to set up affordable spay-neuter programs, with the “main thrust to reduce the number of homeless animals,” Rhoades said.
She said efforts to increase adoptions of animals also have paid off. The animal shelter found homes for 194 cats and dogs between July and September of this year, compared with 74 for the same period last year.
Adoptions are up in part because of a drop in the fees from $70 to $50, as sought by the County Council. The fee includes medical services for animals before they are put in new homes.
Promotional events involving vaccination and shots for animals and insertion of micro chips for identification also have spurred adoptions.
Rhoades attributed the success of the spay-neuter and adoption programs to the relocation of the animal shelter site from Hanapepe to Kipu and public education programs. The latter have produced more volunteers since Rhoades took over, according to Wiley.
Rhodes also spearheads a task force that is seeking the passage of new laws dealing with dangerous dogs. The work has taken on more importance because of an incident in May in which a horse died after being attacked by three pit bulls on a riding trail in Princeville. The rider of the horse survived. The Humane Society has put up a $2, 000 reward for information about the case.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
