Across the country, shelters and rescue organizations are caring for more animals than ever, with a steady stream of strays and owner-surrendered pets arriving at their doors. Hawaiʻi has not been spared. The Hawaiian Humane Society has been over capacity since October 2022, and today we are caring for nearly 1,300 animals across our Mōʻiliʻili and Kosasa Family campuses and in foster homes. That puts us at 137% to 176% of our kennel capacity – depending on how many animals, like bonded pairs and litters, are able to share a kennel – and our teams have begun setting up pop-up crates as emergency housing for incoming cats and dogs.

Capacity for care goes beyond the number of kennels we have. It reflects the time, attention and medical care we can give each animal while they are with us. When our population climbs this high, pets spend more time in kennels with fewer chances for one-on-one attention, enrichment and socialization, and long shelter stays can take a toll on their health and behavior. One of the most effective ways to protect their well-being is to move pets into homes, even for a short stay.

Hawaiʻi’s high cost of living and limited pet-friendly housing are among the most common reasons families make the difficult decision to surrender a pet. Our Pet Kōkua by Hawaiian Humane Community Outreach program helps keep pets with their families through the Pet Food Bank, wellness clinics and access to spay/neuter services. With shelters and our partner rescues full, we are also asking the community to partner with us through the programs below. Each one helps keep animals out of a crowded shelter or moves them into a home sooner.

Host a Couch Crasher

Our Couch Crashers program gives adult shelter dogs a one- to two-week break from the kennel in a community member’s home. Time away from the shelter lets dogs rest, decompress and socialize, and it opens up space for another animal in need. At the end of each stay, hosts fill out a quick virtual report card, which tells us how the dog does in a home and helps us match them with the right family.

Hosting is free, and we provide the supplies and support you need throughout the stay. Just visit our Mōʻiliʻili Campus or Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili, open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and our adoptions team will match you with a dog who fits your household. No appointment or sign-up is needed.

Want to be a Couch Crasher foster? It’s simple! Just walk in to our Mōʻiliʻili Campus or Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili today and our adoptions representatives will help you! No appointments or sign-ups are necessary. 

Pick Up a Free Kitten Kit

Kitten season runs nearly year-round in Hawaiʻi, with the most newborn and underaged kittens arriving between March and October. If you have found kittens and are able to care for them on your own, a free Kitten Kit can help you get started. Without their mother, neonatal and underaged kittens rely completely on human care, and a home is the best place for them to grow. Kitten Kits are tailored to the kittens’ age and include formula or food, feeding and care supplies, and a guide on neonatal care from The Kitten Lady™. When you choose a Kitten Kit, you keep ownership of the kittens and handle their care and future placement, which keeps more animals out of the shelter.

Kitten Kits are available at the Pet Kōkua Resource Centers at our Mōʻiliʻili and Kosasa Family campuses daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from Hawaiian Humane Animal Protection Officers islandwide.

Become a Finder Foster

If you have found a stray pet and want to help but need more support, our Finder Foster program may be the right fit. Hawaiian Humane takes ownership of the animal, and you care for them at home, often starting the same day, with medical care, supplies and guidance from our Foster Care and Veterinary Services teams. Finder Foster is open to dogs and cats of all ages that meet eligibility criteria, and each animal is assessed at our Pet Kōkua Resource Centers at both campuses to determine whether they qualify.

Other Ways to Support

There are many other ways to make a difference, and your efforts may inspire others to follow your lead.

• Adopt

  • Adoption is the most direct way to help “clear the shelter.” Every pet available for adoption from Hawaiian Humane has been medically evaluated, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and given flea, tick and heartworm preventatives.

• Foster a pet with medical or behavioral needs

  • More than 100 pets are waiting for foster placement. Many are neonatal or underage kittens, and others are dogs or cats recovering from surgery or medical treatment, gaining weight or needing more time to socialize before they are ready for adoption. 

• Help Lost Pets Get Home

  • Many lost animals can be reunited with their families without ever entering the shelter. If you find a stray, file a Found Pet Report and take the pet to a veterinarian for a microchip scan. If you can care for the pet temporarily, our Lost and Found team will help reunite them with their family. 

• Give the gift of your time as a volunteer

  • Volunteers are the heart and soul of Hawaiian Humane. Last fiscal year alone, Hawaiian Humane’s 1,700+ volunteer force contributed more than 165,000 volunteer hours in supporting our mission across a variety of roles, including dog walking; cat and small animal enrichment; administrative, facilities, laundry, admissions and adoptions support.

• Explore alternatives to surrendering your pet

  • We understand that circumstances change and that deciding to surrender a beloved pet due to things outside of your control is never easy. Our goal is to keep pets and people together, and our rehoming resources, including the Home to Home platform, can help families find solutions. Unless it is an emergency, please start with these resources at HawaiianHumane.org/rehome before bringing a pet to our campuses. Rehoming directly lets your pet move straight to a new home without the stress of a shelter environment. 

• Raise awareness on the importance of spaying and neutering

  • Preventing the cycle of overpopulation is essential to reducing the number of animals in shelters. The most effective strategy to break that cycle is by supporting spay/neuter initiatives and advocating for legislation that promotes community spay/neuter programs and responsible breeding practices. 

• Volunteer

  • Our volunteers are part of everything we do. Last fiscal year, more than 1,700 volunteers contributed more than 165,000 hours across roles including dog walking, cat and small animal enrichment, and administrative, facilities, laundry, admissions and adoptions support.

• Donate Supplies

  • Our greatest need right now is large bath and beach towels, blankets and flat sheets; cat toys and Churu lickable cat treats; Kong toys for dogs and peanut butter (no xylitol please!). Please do not donate fitted sheets, as the elastic can pose a choking hazard. Donations can be dropped off at either campus daily from 11 am to 6 pm, or purchased through our wish list at HawaiianHumane.org/wishlist.

These collective, community-based solutions allow our staff and volunteers to provide optimal care to the animals that need us most and prevent the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. That requires the participation of our animal-loving community here on Oʻahu. Whether you choose to be a Couch Crasher family, foster neonate kittens, adopt, support spay/neuter initiatives, or all of the above, your actions can make a significant direct impact in reducing the number of animals in need.