To the world you are just another person...
to a rescued animal, you are the world.

 

Every year, puppy and kitten season hits Hawaiʻi Island hard — and this year is no different. Right now, KARES is receiving daily calls about unwanted litters, abandoned puppies and kittens, injured strays, and animals with nowhere safe to go.

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The reality is heartbreaking: there are no open-intake animal shelters on Hawaiʻi Island where these animals can simply be surrendered. When unaltered pets are allowed to roam, the burden often falls on Good Samaritans who never planned to become rescuers, fosters, or lifelong pet owners. Families across the island are stepping in because they cannot turn away hungry puppies, pregnant dogs, frightened kittens, or injured animals left behind.

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KARES is urgently asking our community to help in three critical ways:

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Foster Homes Needed Now

 

Fostering saves lives immediately. Every foster home opens space for another animal in need. Whether you can foster a litter of kittens, a single puppy, or an adult dog recovering from medical care, your temporary help gives these animals a chance to survive and eventually find loving homes.

Many animals that come into rescue are scared, exhausted, underweight, or simply too young to be on their own. Foster homes provide safety, socialization, and stability while KARES works to secure veterinary care and permanent placement.

Even short-term fostering can make an enormous difference.

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Adoption Changes Everything

 

Adoption is the long-term solution for so many deserving animals waiting for families of their own. Every adoption not only changes the life of the pet being adopted — it also creates room for another animal in crisis to receive help.

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Hawaiʻi Island continues to face severe pet overpopulation, and rescue groups and foster homes are stretched beyond capacity. Choosing adoption helps reduce the number of homeless animals while giving rescued pets the second chance they deserve.

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Spay & Neuter is Critical for Our Community

 

First and foremost, if you have been thinking about getting your pet spayed or neutered, now is the time.

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Spay and neuter is the single most effective way to reduce the suffering caused by pet overpopulation on Hawaiʻi Island. One unaltered dog or cat can quickly lead to dozens — and eventually hundreds — of unwanted animals over time.

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Every week, KARES receives calls about:

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• Unwanted litters

• Pregnant dogs and cats

• Puppies dumped on roadsides

• Kittens born outdoors with no protection

• Roaming dogs breeding repeatedly

• Injured and neglected stray animals

 

Many of these situations could have been prevented through spay and neuter. Beyond preventing unwanted litters, spaying and neutering also:

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• Reduces roaming behaviors

• Helps decrease dog fights and aggression

• Lowers the risk of certain cancers and infections

• Reduces strain on rescues, veterinary clinics, and community resources

• Helps keep animals safely at home instead of becoming strays

 

Our island already lacks enough veterinary resources to keep up with the overwhelming need. Rescue organizations, foster homes, and Good Samaritans cannot continue carrying this crisis alone.

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Be Part of the Solution

 

The overpopulation crisis on Hawaiʻi Island will not improve without community involvement. Fostering, adopting, donating, volunteering, and spaying/neutering pets are all critical pieces of the solution.

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If you have room in your home to foster, are ready to adopt, or need assistance getting your pet spayed or neutered, please reach out to KARES.

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Together, we can help reduce the suffering and give these animals the safe, loving future they deserve.