Maui Humane Society is participating in an exciting opportunity for cryptocurrency holders to double their donation to help Maui’s homeless animals. The shelter accepts gifts of crypto and bitcoin and is participating in a $10 Million cryptocurrency matching campaign, made possible by their involvement with #CaringWithCrypto, a fundraising initiative run by The Giving Block and Shift4.
The No. 1 reason dogs and cats are surrendered to the Maui Humane Society is a lack of pet-friendly housing. “With so many off-island home buyers, not only are people getting kicked out of where they currently are renting, but now it is so unaffordable to actually own a home,” said Jenny Miller of the Maui Humane Society. “We’re in dire need of affordable housing that’s pet-friendly.”
America’s beloved Puppy Bowl is back for its 18th year, and its contestants are ready to rumble. This Hawaiian “star” was born at the Maui Humane Society last year after her mother, who was badly wounded, was brought to the shelter just days prior. When Hoku was born, the American Staffordshire terrier and Catahoula Leopard Dog mix was timid but sweet after she grew more comfortable, and she was eventually put into a foster home.
Hoku means “star” in Hawaiian. One of a litter of seven, Hoku is the first dog from Hawaii to appear in the Puppy Bowl. She now lives in the Norwalk home of Patrick and Maureen Shannon. The couple’s daughter, who is the marketing manager for Maui Humane Society, fostered the dog from eight weeks until October and talked her parents into adopting Hoku. It wasn’t difficult to persuade them.
A local rescue from the Maui Humane Society will be the first young pup ever from Hawaii to play in the Puppy Bowl, a fun animal sports competition as part of a “call-to-adoption” television event. “This helped her train for her big Puppy Bowl debut,” according to a news release. “Hoku was adopted by this same employee’s parents who live in Connecticut, so she has gone from island life to snow bunny life.”
Upon our return to MHS, we gave DJ back to a volunteer who had an Australian accent (we didn’t catch his name). I told him I think we failed because I fell in love with DJ and felt like he was such a good match for us. The volunteer said “we called that a success” and told me I probably gave DJ the best day ever. This made me think why can’t I make every day “DJ’s Best Day Ever.” Then, we briefly discussed adoption and bribing him to the mainland with Tucker. We boarded our flight home to Chicago the next morning. I thought about, talked about and looked at pictures of DJ until I called MHS when they opened on Monday. I spoke with Kam who told me DJ was already part of the Wings of Aloha program. She was going to see what DJ’s options were.
Then one day, another Cody called us. One all the way from the Pacific Northwest that felt they could help. Several months after the last of his senior dogs had passed he was ready for a new friend and was looking up “older hard to place shelter dogs” online when Cody’s profile came up. After reading his Bio and watching his video on our website, Cody felt that he just might be the right home for Cody. And boy was he!
As a member of Team Ruff, Hoku is the first Hawaiian dog to compete in Puppy Bowl. This American Staffordshire terrier/Catahoula leopard dog mix comes from the Maui Humane Society whose mission is “to protect and save the lives of Maui’s animals, accepting all in need, educating the community, and inspiring respect and compassion towards all animals.”
Puppy Bowl on Feb. 13 will host a special called “Pup Close and Personal” to showcase Hoku’s story and the Maui Humane Society who continues to care for her. The story will also be shared on the Puppy Bowl website.
Hoku, an American Staffordshire Terrier/Catahoula leopard dog mix, was recruited from the Maui Humane Society, but she’s since found her forever home in Norwalk with Pat and Maureen Shannon. Their daughter works for the Maui Humane Society. When Katie Shannon and Hoku came to the mainland for the game, Katie Shannon had her own play drawn up.
