After 24 days on an abandoned oil tanker lost at sea and a week-long trip to Honolulu after her rescue, Forgea finally reached the Kaua’i Humane Society Monday morning. Dr. Becky Rhoades, veterinarian and director of the Kaua’i Humane Society,
After 24 days on an abandoned oil tanker lost at sea and a week-long trip to Honolulu after her rescue, Forgea finally reached the Kaua’i Humane Society Monday morning.
Dr. Becky Rhoades, veterinarian and director of the Kaua’i Humane Society, said the now internationally-famous dog is playing with toys and doing very well despite being a little shaken up after her journey. Forgea is already tasting the first morsels of her lifetime supply of dog food donated by the Iams Co.
The two-year-old terrier mix, also known as “Hokget,” for the pronunciation of her name, was delivered to Honolulu Harbor last Thursday by crew members of the tugboat American Quest. The tugboat also towed in the fire-gutted Indonesian tanker Insiko 1907 from its drifting course near Johnston Island, an atoll southwest of the Big Island.
A state law requires Forgea to be kept in quarantine. She’ll spend the 120-day quarantine period at the Kaua’i Humane Society’s new center. Forgea is expected to be adopted by the family of Michael Kuo of Honolulu, a longtime friend of Chung Chen-po, the Insiko’s captain and owner of the dog.
The $48,000 spent on Forgea’s rescue has been covered by more than $45,000 in donations from people in 31 states and five countries, said Pamela Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society.
“The partnering between the humane societies in the islands is really positive,” Rhoades said Monday.
“She’s just a scared little girl and she needs a few days to settle in,” Rhoades said of Forgea.
Toys and a special monetary donation came in over the weekend for Forgea. Rhoades said, and the Kaua’i Humane Society has received dozens of e-mail messages from all over the country wishing them well.
“It just helps people understand we’re here to help the animals, and we do rescues every day,” Rhoades said.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
