In a tale that tugs at the heartstrings, a woman named Anna in Hawaii was recently flabbergasted when she received a call from the Maui Humane Society’s Cat Annex stating they had found a cat they believed to be hers.
The five-year-old male feline survived Maui’s devastating Lahaina fires in August and lived in his neighborhood, which was considered a fire zone, for about a month before being picked up by Maui Humane Society rescuers.
“Diana had nowhere to take him back to, so she signed him over to Maui Humane Society, providing the path for him to move forward for adoption,” Smith said. “Then, I officially adopted him, giving me the ability to bring him to FieldHaven, where we will find him just the right home with a family who will cherish him as much as his Maui one did.”
Tepatasi cried when the rescuers called her with the news. Then, there was a tearful reunion when her beloved kitty was in her arms at last. Their story is helping heal hearts for so many others who have endured so much anguish after the Lahaina fires.
Maui Humane Society is providing community members who have been affected by the fires with a free microchip and wellness clinic at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa located at 200 Nohea Kai Dr, Lahaina from 9am-4pm on Monday, August 28. Follow service road to the end, inform Hyatt staff you are going to the Maui Humane Society Vet Clinic. Vet staff will be offering exams, microchips, medications, vaccines, deworming, flea medication and minor procedures. No appointment necessary!
Maui Humane Society, the animal rescue lead agency, is committed to leading the lifesaving and reunification process for all animals, of all species affected by this devastating event. Maui Humane Society continues to cooperate with local emergency management and search and recovery teams. Yesterday, seven cats from within the burn zone were rescued by FEMA task force members and transferred to Maui Humane Society via Humane Enforcement officers. As emergency shelters close down, we are partnering with organizations across the island to ensure that pet supplies are distributed from Hana to Kula to Napili to keep pets in homes. If you know someone who needs help with pet supplies, please visit Maui Humane Society between 11am-5pm, 7 days/week to pick up pet supplies.
Luxmi Quall filed a missing pet report with the Maui Humane Society and created a post on a “Missing Pets of Maui” Facebook group. At 8:30 p.m. on Monday, she received a Facebook message from someone with screenshots of her dog, Hilo.
CNN host Jessica Dean speaks with Maui Humane Society, Director of Marketing Katie Shannon regarding the current situation on Maui. Maui Humane Society estimates there are 3,000 lost or missing pets. MHS is working with emergency response teams to provide medical attention to pets in need in Lahaina. As of Saturday, August 12, fires are still burning and assessments of the damage are underway.
