Kauaʻi Humane Society receives $223,000 state grant for spay and neuter initiatives

The Kauaʻi Humane Society will use $223,000 from its first Grant-in-Aid from the State of Hawaiʻi for spay and neuter initiatives to help decrease the overpopulation crisis.

This funding will allow all public spay and neuters, despite the animal’s gender or weight, to cost only $35 per animal through the end of February 2024. The surgery includes a microchip if the animal does not already have one, per state law. 

Executive Director Nicole Schafer Crane said the goal is to fix as many animals on Kauaʻi.

“The most effective way to solve pet overpopulation is to spay and neuter,” Crane said. “One of the primary factors of pet overpopulation is allowing cats and dogs to reproduce without securing a home for them to go into.”

The Kauaʻi Humane Society takes in thousands of dogs and cats that do not have homes, and in 2022 more than 1,000 of the animals that came into the animal shelter were born in 2022.

“If 1,000 animals are being born homeless on Kauaʻi, it means we have a crisis,” Crane said.

Previously, surgeries cost $50 per cat, and up to $125 for a female spay of a dog weighing more than 50 pounds. 

This funding also has also allowed the animal shelter to purchase additional surgical equipment and hire a temporary veterinary technician, veterinarian and potential veterinarian relief should it be required. 

Puppies can become pregnant as early as 6 months and kittens can become pregnant as early as 4 months. It’s very important that all pets are fixed as early as possible. Dogs and cats can and should be fixed as early as two-months-old as long as they weigh at least two pounds. 

“Spaying and neutering keeps pets safe,” Crane added. “It greatly reduces the risk of cancers and disease. It reduces the behavior of roaming and fighting. It reduces the homeless pet population that when free-roaming is at risk of starvation, disease, parasites and vehicular accidents. It also decreases pet waste pollution that can get into waterways. And it protects wildlife that is at risk of predation.”

Low-cost spay and neuter clinics are offered weekly at the Kauaʻi Humane Society. More info and online scheduling can be found at https://kauaihumane.org/service/veterinary-services/ 

The animal shelter also is looking for volunteer drivers to help transport pets for those without reliable transportation.

“Our goal is to ensure that every pet owner who wants their pet fixed will receive the assistance to do so,” Crane said. “Our goal is all of them.”

All inquiries including volunteers interested in helping with shuttling animals or surgery recovery, as well as anyone needing help with transportation should be directed to [email protected].