Frequently Asked Questions

I am relocating to the mainland and can’t take my pet. Why does the Hawaiian Humane Society charge a fee to surrender pets?
The $25 fee is an important parting gift towards your pet's future care while he awaits adoption. In some cases, animals are with us for months while we try to find a family. Pets can be dropped off any time of day or night here.

Can the Humane Society come on military bases and rescue animals, pick up feral cats and investigate cruelty?
Military base housing falls under federal jurisdiction and base access must be approved on an individual basis to enter these neighborhoods similar to HPD. Cruelty cases must be investigated in partnership with base authorities and military personnel who may be facing cruelty charges for acts committed in base areas must be prosecuted under their own penal system. We can provide investigative resources and case files. As with all Oahu neighborhoods, there is a charge for stray cat pick ups, which is a service funded entirely by these fees. Game wardens, base security and military citizens can bring stray animals to our shelter at no charge if their policy allows them to. Stray animals including feral cats can be dropped off at the Humane Society.

I saw the Hawaiian Humane Society picking up a stray dog in our neighborhood. Don’t the truck’s animal compartments get hot?
The Humane Society’s rescue trucks are specially designed for animal comfort. Each compartment is air-conditioned to ensure maximum comfort in transit. The Society recommends that if you’ve found an animal to bring him here, so that investigators can devote more time to emergencies and rescues.

My landlord is trying to evict me because I have a service animal. What are my rights under the law?
Your landlord is required to make reasonable accommodations for you as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA). Contact the State of Hawaii's Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) at 586-8121 and/or the Hawaii Disability Rights Center (HDRC) at 949-2922 for specific information regarding the law.

My neighbor has a noisy rooster. Who do I call?
When crowing continues for 10 continuous minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes, it is a violation of the animal nuisance law, as is keeping more than two chickens in a residential area. If you are having a problem with a neighbor's roosters, try talking to your neighbor first. If the noise problem re-occurs, you need to contact Animal Haven at 799-7791. Another resource for resolving a disputer is The Mediation Center of the Pacific at 521-6767.

What are the benefits of spay and neuter?
Pets live longer and certain health issues are eliminated or decreased. Pets are often found the be more affectionate and less likely to run away from home and get in to fights. Spay and neuter helps our community by controlling overpopulation. Learn more here.

How can we get more parks opened to dogs on leash?
City & County’s Parks and Recreation division policy is that parks with sports fields are for human use only and will not be considered for dog access. The best way to affect change is to mobilize your neighborhood and present your proposal to the Neighborhood Board and ask that it be put on the agenda for the next meeting for public comment. Call the Humane Society for more tips on how to influence the County’s stand against dogs in parks.

What tips can we offer our house sitter who will watch our pets?
Ask your sitter to keep your pets indoors this weekend. And if they become lost, to call the Hawaiian Humane Society immediately. File a lost report at hawaiianhumane.org. Before you go, make sure your pets have a microchip. Fill out this form to ensure that your contact information is accurate. A current license tag for your dog is essential as it identifies you as his legal owner.

What are some things that are toxic to pets?
Avocados are toxic to a number of animals, including horses, rabbits, fish and mice. Chocolate, raisins and grapes, moldy foods, anything in the onion family, some artificial sweeteners can all pose problems for your pets. Ask your veterinarian about a comprehensive list for the species of pet you have.

Is a pet microchip as important as a collar with a tag?
Both are equally important. Collars and tags can come off and a microchip is permanent. Each chip contains a unique ID number that can be read by a scanner. If you've kept your contact information current with the Humane Society, it can mean a faster reunion if your pet gets lost. Bring your pet to the Humane Society any day between noon and 6 pm and we'll implant a microchip for $15.

How long are animals available for adoption?
If their health and behavior do not deteriorate, we keep them as long as it takes to find them a home. There is no time limit. We foster for space when needed and hope that more will choose adoption.

Why can’t the Humane Society treat my pets?
We are not a full-service clinic and there are many wonderful veterinarians in the community available to pet owners. Our veterinarians perform more than 7,000 sterilizations a year. That’s nearly 20 a day along with evaluating, treating 400 to 600 homeless animals arriving each week.

How many staff do you have?
We have about 70 staff members. Each of these departments have a staff of about 5 full-time: Adoptions, Admissions and Community Relations. Our veterinary team includes two veterinarians and about 10 technicians and caregivers. Our investigations and rescue team totals about 10 with 3 on duty at any given time for service to all of Oahu.

Why isn't the Humane Society a "no-kill" shelter?
If there is a singular phraseology that divides all of us who love animals, it is the term no kill. The truth is that there is no such place as a no kill shelter. Limited admission organizations may turn unadoptable animals away.

As a community, we all share responsibility for Oahu’s euthanasia rate. The stray cat we feed but do not fix. The pet shop where we buy a puppy. The accidental litter at home. The purebred we buy from a breeder rather than adopt from a shelter. The pet we surrender when we have to move. So many of the choices we make and that our friends and family make affect Oahu’s euthanasia rate. As Oahu’s only open-admission shelter, we believe there must be a place on Oahu that will not turn any animal away.

We hope that you will find your role in actively helping us to reduce euthanasia. We are committed to finding every adoptable pet a family.