As search-and-recover operations continue for human victims of the West Maui fires, Maui Humane Society staffers are engaged in their own efforts to find, capture and care for thousands of lost pets, reunite survivors with their owners and document animals that perished in the fires.

What You Need To Know

  • As workers collect stray and deceased animals, locations are pinned and the animals checked for identification and scanned for microchips

  • MHS has estimated that there are approximately 3,000 lost animals related to the recent fires

  • About 150 cats and kittens that were at the facility before the fires are being transferred to rescue partners on the mainland with the help of Greater Good Charities. Some 116 dogs are also being placed in foster homes. Horses and other livestock from Kula have been relocated
  • MHS field services teams have been providing food and water to horses, pigs, sheep and goats both in West Maui and Upcountry

In addition, MHS is also providing pet food and supplies to evacuation centers and other areas in need of supplies and veterinary care.

MHS CEO Lisa Labrecque updated media about the organization’s daily operations at a news conference on Monday and said it is working closely with Maui police to make sure teams work only in areas that have been cleared.

As workers collect stray and deceased animals, locations are pinned, and the animals checked for identification and scanned for microchips.

Labrecque asked the public not to move or dispose of deceased animals, so MHC workers have a chance to catalog and check the animals for identification.

“People are desperately searching for their pets and they have been incredibly grateful to our team for any closure that we’re able to give them,” she said. “We’ve received numerous reports of live animals in various locations around the perimeter of the burn area in West Maui so we’ve set up dozens of feeding stations with food and water to draw the animals out that may be scared and in hiding so that they can be trapped efficiently and brought back to the shelter.”

MHS has estimated that there are approximately 3,000 lost animals related to the recent fires.

Labrecque asked that people report stray and deceased animal sightings. Those who find and take in lost animals are asked to submit a photo of the animal.

“Our teams in the field are bringing back injured and displaced animals each day,” she said. “Our veterinary staff on site are treating both burn injuries and smoke inhalation cases. We have cleared our shelter of all animals we had housed from before the fires to make room for the animals impacted by the fires.”

About 150 cats and kittens that were at the facility before the fires are being transferred to rescue partners on the mainland with the help of Greater Good Charities. Some 116 dogs are also being placed in foster homes. Horses and other livestock from Kula have been relocated.

MHS has taken in 52 lost animals from the Lahaina area so far, 12 of which are hospitalized with injuries. Eight animals have been reunited with their owners, Labrecque said.

Meanwhile, MHS field services teams have been providing food and water to horses, pigs, sheep and goats, both in West Maui and Upcountry.

Labrecque said veterinary triage teams have been stationed at Napili Plaza and the Lahaina Civic Center to provide daily medical care to animals.