LIHUE, Hawaii — The Kauai Humane Society has no free kennels in its facility, according to a news release.

What You Need To Know

  • Many kennels at the Kauai Humane Society are housing two or three dogs

  • The shelter is offering free dog adoptions through the end of the year

  • It’s also asking people to foster animals

  • Adoptable dogs can be viewed here

KHS has been completely full since Thursday, Dec. 15. 

Many kennels are housing two or three dogs. Another 20 dogs are in foster care. 

The shelter is offering free dog adoptions through the end of the year. It’s also asking people to foster animals.

Executive Director Nicole Schafer Crane said in the news release that overcrowding can affect the physical and mental well-being of the animals. 

Staff and volunteers at KHS have worked all year to make room for sick or injured animals. The Kauai Humane Society is a no-kill animal shelter.

Since 2021, KHS has a special program that allows cats and dogs to be sent to forever homes on the neighbor islands or mainland, successfully transferring more than 500 animals off island. 

Still, it hasn’t been enough to make space available. 

Crane said shelters across the U.S. are at full capacity. 

“The nation has been seeing animals, especially dogs, residing in shelters longer,” Crane said. “The Kauai Humane Society is also seeing longer lengths of stay as adoptions are less than last year and our shelter partners on the continent are remaining full, so they are unable to take in our animals and help them find homes outside of Kauai. As many animals as KHS find homes for, more animals come into the shelter. The intakes continue to be higher than the outcomes, resulting in a full shelter.”

For those able to adopt a dog, KHS requests that they make an appointment since the shelter is short staffed. However, walk-ins won’t be turned away. Adoptable dogs can be viewed here. 

The program for off-island adoptions is still available too. Fees range from $300 to send an animal to a neighbor island or the West Coast and $500 to send an animal past the West Coast.  

If adoption isn’t an option, fostering a dog is another way to help. 

Short-term fostering is possible through the Home for the Holidays program. The shelter will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day, so taking a pet home during this time provides them with much needed attention. 

Long-term fostering is also an option. Foster volunteers can call or text 808-631-2844 or email fosters@kauaihumane.org. KHS supplies food, medical care and supplies to foster volunteers. 

Donations to KHS can be made here. Also, check out their Amazon Wishlist here. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her ideas and feedback at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

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