Paws Across the Pacific comes to the rescue

PUHI — The Kaua‘i Humane Society partnered with Greater Good Charities and Wings of Rescue to fly over 600 shelter dogs and cats from Hawai‘i to the U.S. mainland, making Paws Across the Pacific the largest pet-rescue flight in history. Nearly 300 of the shelter pets to board the Paws Across the Pacific are from the Kaua‘i Humane Society.

“The Kaua‘i Humane Society is thrilled to be sending 300 animals on this life-saving freedom flight,” said Mirah Horowitz, KHS executive director. “When we were first asked by the John R. Peterson Foundation what we needed most during COVID, we had no idea that our dream of a chartered plane would turn into an opportunity for animals across our entire state. We are so excited that so many animals will now have their chance at a loving home.”

These healthy and loving pets are being moved from overcrowded pet shelters on five islands across the state and then flown to shelters in Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, where they’ll be quickly adopted into loving forever homes.

“Pet shelters in Hawai‘i are in a COVID-19 crisis. Normal operations have been affected by months of shutdown, economic downturn, limited hours, and routine flights to mainland halted,” said Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities. “The Paws Across the Pacific flight is urgently needed to make space in Hawai‘i’s shelters for at-risk pets who otherwise wouldn’t be able to receive necessary care to survive.”

On the evening of Oct. 28, Paws Across the Pacific will board more than 600 shelter dogs and cats on a chartered Hercules C-130 plane that will make stops on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i islands.

Hawai‘i shelter partners include Kaua‘i Humane Society, Hawaiian Humane Society, Lana‘i Cat Sanctuary, Hawai‘i Island Humane Society, Maui Humane Society, Aloha ‘Ilio Rescue, and Kaua‘i SPCA.

The Hercules C-130 with the over 2,500 furry paws is scheduled to arrive at Seattle’s Boeing Field in the late morning on Oct. 29, where pet shelters and rescue groups will pick them up, while 120 of the shelter pets continue their journey to Walla Walla and Coeur d’Alene. Mainland shelter partners include: PAWS, The NOAH Center, Seattle Humane, the Humane Society of Skagit Valley, Kitsap Humane, Oregon Humane, Southwest Washington Humane, Kootenai Humane Society, Seattle Area Feline Rescue (SAFR), Tracs, Spokanimal, Blue Mountain Humane Society and Embrace a Discarded Pet Society.

The Paws Across the Pacific airlift is being conducted in coordination with the Hawai‘i Veterinary Medical Association to ensure the safety and health of pets on the flight. In addition to flying pets to their new families, Greater Good Charities and The Animal Rescue Site are providing enrichment and critical medical supplies to assist the shelters and the sheltered pets of Hawai‘i.
Source: The Garden Island