Maui visitors can now lend help to orphaned animals

Visitors to Maui who are feeling some “pet withdrawal”while on vacation can drop into the Maui Humane Society for some therapy. Beginning in April, the MHS is introducing two new programs for pet-deprived visitors who want to interact with and help homeless animals while holidaying on the island. For instance, the “Helping Paws Visitor Program”starts April 3, and visitors can offer a “helping paw”at the shelter every Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Each half-day session will start with a brief orientation followed by pre-planned activities such as walking dogs, bathing puppies, brushing cats or playing with the animals – an important part of their socialization. Also, the MHS offers the Wings of Aloha program to fly shelter animals to areas in the US and Canada where pets are guaranteed adoption by working in partnership with local rescue organizations. Over the past several months, nearly 200 homeless Maui pets have found families in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Canada through Wings of Aloha. Airfare for an animal is costly, but if a shelter pet flies under the same reservation as a ticketed passenger, the cost is significantly reduced. (http://www.mauihumanesociety.org)