Rescue Making a Difference for Island Pets: Kaua`i Animal Welfare Society

Welcome to Featured Rescue Friday, a weekly series where we share with you an awesome rescue that should be on your radar. This week we are featuring the exceptional new rescue, Kaua`i Animal Welfare Society (aka KAWS)!

KAWS officially launched in April of 2015 on the small island of Kaua`i. In the few short months they have been operating, they have saved 9 at risk animals from the Kaua`i Humane Society (KHS). There is a huge homeless pet population on Kaua`i and in 2014, KHS euthanized approximately 600 dogs and 2000 cats. The founders of KAWS decided that they wanted to do something to help reduce these numbers and have stepped up substantially to do their part!

“I found myself constantly saying, ‘Something more needs to be done to help these animals,’” said KAWS co-founder Dinah Chao. After years of rescuing on her own, Dinah connected with Ally Kirk, who had also been rescuing for years, and the two co-founded KAWS. Within a few months, Kim Foster and David Schwartz joined the team. Kim is part of the rescue missions and David is the legal advisor.

KAWS rescue Scamp with his foster dad Don and KAWs board member Kim before his flight to Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation on Maui

The mission of KAWS is simple:

“The Kaua`i Animal Welfare Society believes every animal on Kaua`i deserves a safe and nurturing home.  Our mission is to provide moral, financial, and medical support for those fostering homeless pets; to end the practice of euthanasia as a means of population control, instead relying on spay and neuter and trap and return programs; and to create a sanctuary for animals not yet placed in foster or permanent homes.”

KAWS rescue, Emily

To help address the overpopulation issue in Kaua`i and help reduce euthanasia rates, KAWS seeks to provide affordable spay and neuter programs as well as to offer programs educating people on the proper care and treatment of animals. KAWS currently supports island residents who foster pets by assisting with vet care, food, and shelter. They also help transfer adoptable pets to homes or foster families on the mainland.

“We currently work with Toni, owner and trainer at Dogtribe Doggy Daycare in Portland, OR. Toni fosters two KAWS pups at a time at her daycare until they are matched with their forever families,” said Dinah.

One of the first dogs KAWS rescued together was Pua, a pup that was neglected and living in deplorable conditions. She had a severe case of demodectic mange, ear mites, a heart murmur, and fleas. KAWS was able to get her medicine and start her on food and vitamins to help her skin. She was then connected with a loving family who nursed her back to health and welcomed her into their home permanently. “It’s moments like seeing Pua go to a wonderful home that keep us motivated to save even more Kaua`i animals,” commented Ally.

 KAWS rescue dog, Pua, upon intake by KAWS and after being nursed back to health

While they do not currently have a facility, their vision is to open an animal sanctuary so they can save even more animals. “Currently we have two spots reserved at Bark! Bark! Backyard Boarding and Training center,” said Dinah. “Owners and trainers Karen and RJ have been integral in KAWS by housing and training while we work to find adoptable pets their forever homes. However, we are looking forward to the day we can expand into our own facility where we can take on more dogs and cats!”

To stay up to date on the latest rescues at KAWS, you can follow them on Facebook. If you’d like to donate to help them make a bigger difference and save more lives, you can visit their donation page! Can’t donate? If you shop at Amazon, consider using AmazonSmile and having a percentage of your purchases go to KAWS.