LIHUE — Elizabeth Freitas sat with her dog Kaddy, a black and white short-legged dog, at a luncheon inside a classroom at the Kauai Humane Society with about 20 other people, all animal lovers and all either staff, volunteers or
LIHUE — Elizabeth Freitas sat with her dog Kaddy, a black and white short-legged dog, at a luncheon inside a classroom at the Kauai Humane Society with about 20 other people, all animal lovers and all either staff, volunteers or board members.
Frietas, a KHS board member since 2001, lovingly pets Kaddy, a rescue who’s quite content with her lot in life.
“I’ve created a monster,” she said jokingly as she smiled down at Kaddy. “But look at her face.”
Frietas was one of 12 board members at the luncheon at KHS Wednesday to celebrate National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, which runs from Nov. 3-9. The luncheon was to show appreciation to the 43 staff members and the countless volunteers and pet lovers who give up their time to help the shelter.
Freitas said she spends more time with KHS then she does at her day job.
“We’ve been doing this for years now just to say thanks and show our appreciation to the staff because they really work for the love of the animals and we definitely can’t pay them what they’re worth,” she said.
Mary Zakula, animal lover and staff member in charge of animals flying in and off the island, said she is happy the board members acknowledge her contribution.
“I think it’s really nice that board of directors understand that the staff is working hard and that they appreciate us that we are behind our executive director,” Zakula said. “This is a good way to express it.”
Frietas said she loves mingling with the staff and volunteers because it’s kind of like talking to family.
“I’m at the shelter quite a bit,” she said. “But talking over food is more family. It’s a lot more relaxed.”
Diann Hartman, another board member, said the staff and volunteers work hard and deserve a big mahalo.
“It’s a somewhat thankless job and they do such great work,” she said. “I admire them for it because I couldn’t do it.”
To date this year, KHS has found homes for 793 dogs and cats, returned 494 who became lost to their owners, transferred 362 to shelters on the Mainland for adoption, and spayed and neutered 2,911, Hartman said.
