Maui Humane Society Faces Overcrowding Crisis: A Call for Community Support
The Maui Humane Society (MHS) is facing an overwhelming crisis, with the stark reality of overcrowding threatening the welfare of the animals in its care.
The shelter currently houses 70 dogs and has 140 dogs in foster care, alongside an astounding 5,000 animals overall in its programs. Despite their tireless efforts, MHS is unable to keep up with the growing number of animals in need.
With zero available kennels, dogs continue to arrive daily, either as lost or surrendered pets - especially after New Year’s celebrations.
17 dogs are on a surrender waitlist, and at least six more are expected to come in this weekend. The shelter’s transfer partners, which typically help alleviate pressure through programs like Wings of Aloha, are at capacity, further limiting options.
“Our current shelter capacity is inhumane for the animals and unsafe for the people who care for them.” MHS shared.
Overcrowding has led to increased anxiety among the animals, triggering behaviors like barking, pacing, and jumping. These stress-induced behaviors can result in friction between animals, an elevated risk of injuries or illnesses, and less time for staff to address individual needs.
“A once-healthy dog now has behaviors that cannot be managed in the shelter environment,they slowly begin to deteriorate, and their quality of life in the shelter decreases. Caring for them in this environment becomes inhumane. When an animal’s quality of life declines and no homes are available, euthanasia is considered. This is our worst-case scenario, and it is staring us in the face.”
The Need for Immediate Action
The Maui community is urgently needed to step in and support the island’s homeless pets. Here’s how you can help:
Spay and Neuter Your Pets: Prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of animals entering shelters.
Adopt or Foster: Provide a home, even temporarily, to a pet in need.
Volunteer: Assist the shelter with caring for animals, cleaning, or community outreach.
Advocate for Pet-Inclusive Housing: Encourage landlords to allow pets in rentals, reducing the likelihood of pets being surrendered.
Donate: Support MHS’s mission to provide food, medical care, and resources to animals and their future adopters.
Utilize Resources: Reach out to MHS for help if you’re struggling to care for your pet.
MHS is also exploring innovative solutions to combat the crisis, such as hiring additional staff, offering food and resources to adopters, covering pet deposits and fees for renters, and expanding spay/neuter programs. Despite these efforts, community involvement remains crucial to prevent further suffering.
MHS has always prioritized the well-being of Maui’s animals, but they cannot do it alone. Without urgent support, the shelter may face the heartbreaking possibility of euthanasia for space.
“The animals in our care deserve compassion and a chance at a better life. With your help, we can give it to them,” MHS emphasized.
Let’s come together as a community to ensure Maui’s animals are not only cared for but given the opportunity to thrive. Foster, adopt, volunteer, or donate today—every action makes a difference.
For more information or to get involved, visit the Maui Humane Society’s website or contact them directly.
