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In the wake of the deadly and devastating wildfires on Maui in August, Hawai‘i JASNA member Stacey Gomez Chaleff (pictured with niece Stacia Arnold, of California) is busier than ever at the Maui Humane Society, where she has been a volunteer since 2022.
Fortunately, both the Pu‘unene Humane Society facility in central Maui and Stacey’s home in Wailea to the south were outside the fire zones.
As surgical intake ambassador, Stacey normally helps with the spay/neuter program for pets and feral cats and does “not very glamorous” but necessary support tasks. Since the fires, it’s been all hands on deck with the facility accepting and distributing pet food and supplies, tending injured animals and trying to reunite lost pets with their families. In addition to generous donations from the community, hundreds of volunteers—many of them first-timers—have shown up each day to help, she reports. “In addition, the community heeded the call to clear the shelter, immediately fostering the animals, to make room for the injured and lost animals that turn up each day since the fires.”
It’s just part of a broader effort to assist in recovery from the fires, which killed at least 115 people, left hundreds unaccounted for and leveled the historic waterfront town of Lahaina. “The outpouring of love and support for all of those affected has been overwhelming in the best way,” Stacey says. “Everyone is doing whatever they can and it’s beautiful to see.” (See the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for ways to help.)
Continued support is needed to help affected families care for their pets. Make monetary donations to the Maui Humane Society, or check out its Amazon wishlist. “And if you are on island, you can support our animals by taking a shelter dog out for the day through our Beach Buddies program or visiting with kitties in our Cat ‘Ohana,” Stacey added.
Lack of pet housing is a major reason animals end up in shelters or cannot be adopted, Stacey says. She cannot have pets where she lives now, but previously had a rescued poodle mix “an older gal, who was my very best friend. I look forward to seeing her again at Rainbow Bridge some day.” In the meantime, she treasures the volunteer shifts when she gets to help socialize puppies, playing with them, holding them, letting them know human hands are friendly.”
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