Construction of Hawaii’s first high-volume spay-and-neuter clinic is underway at the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Moiliili shelter. The $700,000 facility will provide surgeries for companion animals as well as assistance to feline colony caregivers who are taking part in the effort to lower the population of “free-roaming cats.” Since 1993 the Hawaiian Humane Society has sterilized more than 58,000 cats falling into that group, and it supports a trap-neuter-return-manage strategy.
“We plan to open our doors this spring,” said Lisa Fowler, the nonprofit’s new president and chief executive officer. “I’m especially excited about this project because it is one of the ways the Hawaiian Humane Society is able to assist the community in reducing pet overpopulation.”
The clinic’s initial capacity is expected to allow up to 8,000 spay or neuter surgeries a year, with the potential to double that tally. The project follows $11 million in recent shelter renovations, which included new dog and cat houses, roads, parking, utilities and the launch of a clinic that treats animals for various conditions and spays and neuters them before adoption.
Fowler, a seven-year veteran of the Hawaiian Humane Society’s staff, was tapped by its board of directors this month to head the organization. She succeeds longtime leader Pamela Burns, who died in September and had been on a leave of absence for health reasons at the time of her death. Fowler previously served as director of development and most recently headed operations.
A lifelong Hawaii resident, Fowler was born and raised in Honolulu. Her alma maters are Punahou School and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Before employment at the Hawaiian Humane Society, she served as executive director of the Hawaii Island Humane Society.
Her career path began taking shape two dozen years ago, as a Humane Society volunteer. “I wanted to help homeless animals find a better life,” Fowler said. “In the many years that have followed, my passion has grown and I see so many opportunities to make a difference for Hawaii’s animals.”
Question:In addition to the high-volume spay-neuter clinic, what else is in the works as a priority right now?
Answer: It is a very exciting time for the Hawaiian Humane Society. … We’re also looking forward to bringing our vision of a second campus to life. D.R. Horton-Schuler Homes donated 5 acres of land for the development of a West Oahu campus. The planning for the design and construction is in progress.
Our new campus will serve as a community gathering place for people and animals, and will include services that strengthen the human-animal bond and promote the humane treatment of all animals. Offerings will include sheltering for homeless and lost animals, spay and neuter services, adoptions, lost and found, a community dog park and youth education.
Q: What’s your long-term vision for the overall organization?
A: For the past 134 years the Hawaiian Humane Society has promoted humane values including compassion — for both people and animals. We have always been, and will continue to be, a resource for our community. We’re the safe haven for lost and homeless animals and find great joy in celebrating the human-animal bond.
The vision and mission of the Hawaiian Humane Society is one that will continue to be the driving force in all that we do, to create a community that is compassionate to all animals and their people. … I also know that we must evolve to meet our community’s changing needs. We are the voice for Hawaii’s animals wherever that takes us.
Q: During a recent state sweep of homeless encampments below the H-1 freeway viaduct, 110 dogs and 40 cats were removed from the site. What did the Humane Society’s involvement in the effort consist of?
A: When the state requested our assistance at the homeless encampment we gathered our community relations, veterinary and field service teams to brainstorm ways to help the people and animals who would be displaced. Our team deployed a week prior to the sweep to provide education and outreach to those with animals. We then went back to the site during the sweep to provide further outreach — pet food, flea and tick medication, collars and leashes and health exams.
Some dogs were willingly surrendered to us by their owners who felt they could no longer care for them, and a few strays were also brought back to our shelter.
Q: This year, the Humane Society started administrating the city’s spay-neuter programs. How’s that going?
A: The city’s very successful Neuter Now program has been in existence since 1993, providing pet owners with affordable services. (Medicaid card and low-income housing voucher holders are eligible for reduced rates for dog and cat sterilization surgeries.)
Also, in August, the City Council passed a bill to encourage the sterilization of free-roaming cats. This pilot program, “Feline Fix,” started in September, and it is too early to evaluate its results. (Participating veterinarians are partnering with the city to offer deeply discounted vouchers, $10, that cover surgery anesthesia, sterilization, a microchip and an ear notch.)
Q: Many people think about cat and dog issues when the Humane Society is mentioned. What other animal problems or nuisances are there on Oahu?
A: In January, the City and County expanded our services to include response to noise complaints related to crowing chickens and other peafowl. While the contract does not include trapping and removal, we work with the community to educate and resolve nuisance crowing.
Q: Does the Humane Society provide any other services for the city?
A: Yes. We hold the animal services contract for the City and County. That includes stray animal rescue and pickup, dangerous dog and dog bite investigations and barking dog complaints.
In addition, we enforce the cat identification law and conduct investigations; 24-hour rescue and response; 24-7 dispatch and 24-hour admission of all animals; pet adoptions seven days a week at the shelter in Moiliili and various locations islandwide; daily lost and found services; animal sheltering as well as medical care and treatment including sterilization.
Q:What’s your estimate on the size of the free-roaming cat population on Oahu?
A: Free-roaming cats is an inclusive term that incorporates all cats that are not exclusively confined on their owner’s property. Free-roaming cats include felines who are owned, indoor-outdoor, stray, abandoned, socialized and feral/unsocialized cats.
It is next to impossible to count the number of cats that are on the landscape. However, according to a 2015 study commissioned by the Hawaiian Humane Society and prepared by Ward Research, 52,000 people (or 17 percent of households on Oahu) claim that a member of their household feeds one or more cats that they do not consider to be their own. And of those, more than half (58 percent) of the respondents don’t know if the cats they feed are sterilized.
Q: The Hawaiian Humane Society takes in all animals. What sorts of unusual animal admissions or admissions stories have you encountered?
A: As Oahu’s only open-admissions shelter … we see a variety of species and breeds come through our doors. In addition to dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, turtles and birds, some unusual animals that we have seen over the past year include pet peacocks, pigs, tortoises, ducks, chickens and a pygmy goat.
In addition, the Humane Society is an amnesty dropoff site for illegal animals. Animals voluntarily surrendered will be accepted no questions asked. In those cases, we work with the Department of Agriculture on the best home for the animal. Different animals that we have seen as part of the amnesty program include a hedgehog, python and a diamondback back terrapin turtle.
Q: What do you find most rewarding in your work at the Humane Society?
A: I am so fortunate to work with an amazing and dedicated team. I am continually inspired by our staff, volunteers, board members and community supporters who are committed to improving the lives of the people and animals of Hawaii.
Q: Most challenging?
A: Seeing an animal who has been mistreated. It’s heartbreaking. As long as this exists, the Hawaiian Humane Society will continue to be their voice.
