Tradewinds Pet Suites

06/25/2024

Sweet Zimmy.

06/25/2024

Good morning Jac!

06/25/2024

Hi Diva!

06/25/2024

Sweet Hoku!

06/25/2024

Good morning Raine!

06/25/2024

Good boy Charlie.

06/25/2024

Sweet Maui.

06/25/2024

If Bill 64 passes, animal rescue shelters on ag- or country-zoned lands will be permanently shuttered. This over-reaching and illogical bill will have hundreds of casualties, but this one actually has a face – and a compelling story. Meet Maui-Boy – a survivor of the Lahaina wildfire who is currently in a West Oahu rescue shelter until his family can be reunited.

When the fast-moving fire broke out last August, the beautiful German Shepherd was home alone. His dad raced to get to him, but the streets were blocked and he couldn’t get through.
Abandoning his vehicle, Dad jumped out and ran through the smoke and flames to get to his helpless dog. The two of them ran to safety together -- on foot.

Their lives were spared, but the problems were far from over. Their house -- like hundreds of others on that tragic day -- was a total loss. The entire family – including Maui-Boy – was homeless. It became immediately apparent that housing was going to be a huge issue for the foreseeable future. Because of the widespread devastation, there were very few rentals available, and those that were, did not accept pets – especially large dogs.

Maui-Boy’s grandparents live on Oahu, so as soon as his dad could get him on a flight, the dog made the trip to Tutu’s house. But as it turned out, Tutu and Papa live in a “no pets” complex, and they were told that Maui-Boy had to leave. For the third time in as many weeks, the German Shepherd’s future looked grim.

Many of the displaced pets from the wildfire went to shelters on the mainland where they could be re-homed. That was a lifesaving effort for many pets, but Maui-Boy’s family couldn’t bear the thought of losing their beloved dog on top of having already lost everything else. Plus, Maui-Boy was no longer a young dog. What would it do to him to be permanently separated from his “pack?”

Then, through social media, his grandparents found the Geneva’s Phoenix German Shepherd Rescue – a shelter located on nearly two acres of country-zoned land on West Oahu.

When he arrived at the shelter, Maui-Boy was thin and anxious; clearly, he was struggling with the recent changes in his life, and he needed medication to help him cope with the stress. But it didn’t take him long to settle in. Within a few weeks, no he longer needed calming meds, his appetite improved, and he seemed to understand that this was his safe-haven while his parents and grandparents tried to find a home where they could all be reunited.

While Dad searched for housing on Maui, Grandma and Grandpa came to visit him at the Oahu shelter every week – taking him for outings to the beach, to birthday parties, and even to a Christmas party where he got to video chat with his dad and family who were on still on Maui.

As of this writing – 10 months after the fire -- Maui-Boy is still in the shelter and there’s wonderful hope on the horizon. It looks like he will be reunited with his family in the next few weeks.

Why am I telling you this? Because if Bill 64 passes, this rescue shelter – as well as others on ag- or country-zoned land will be forced to close. What will happen to dogs like Maui-Boy, who – through no fault of their own – need help and a safe place to stay after a disaster or after they have become lost or worse, abandoned?

Please contact the Honolulu City Council members and urge them to VOTE NO ON BILL 64. A flyer with the email addresses and phone numbers of all Council members is in the comments below. Mahalo for sharing. (Maui-Boy says thanks, too!!)

06/24/2024

Ready for a game of fetch Mr. Zimmy?

06/24/2024

Good morning Diva!

06/24/2024

Good morning Hoku!

06/24/2024

Good morning Charlie!

06/24/2024

Good morning Maui boy!

06/23/2024

If this doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, check for a pulse…

Well, today didn't go as we hoped but it's in the hardest of times we learn the best lessons and feel the most gratitude.
Buffy was scheduled to have her teeth cleaned and removed today but Dr. Mac had a gut feeling she needed to look at some lab work before putting her under anesthesia. She was right; Buffy showed signs of advanced kidney failure so anesthesia was not an option and as a family we decided that the kindest and most loving thing to do would be to let her go before she lost her will to live and stopped eating and drinking.
I wouldn't have dreamed of leaving Robbie out of this decision or not allowing him to be part of the entire process so I immediately went and picked him up from school. On the way there he told me he wanted to be the one to hold her when she went to heaven. And of course, I gave him that honor. On the way home I told him how proud I was of him for understanding the importance of caring for old animals and helping to make sure they never ever suffer.
This is what he said...
(And for those of you who don't know, Robbie was adopted from the foster care system after years of severe abuse and neglect.)
"I know how it feels not to be loved or cared for and I don't want any animal of mine to ever feel that way. It's only sad for us when they go to heaven. It's a happy day for them. Thank you for being proud of me. Are you ok, Mom?"
From the mouths of babes.
(As our story is being shared more and more I feel like I need to add a little more context and also give you a deeper glimpse into the heart of my son. We adopt senior dogs. Robbie LOVES adopting senior dogs. He is sadly aware the longer a child remains in foster care the less likely they are to be adopted. He told me once "if all you guys had wanted was a baby, you would have never gotten me." He relates to our "old people" (that's what we call our senior dogs) in much the same way.
He has also reminded me on several occasions that it doesn't matter how long you have something for how much you love it. I asked him what he meant and he said "well you've only known me for two years but you love me like it's been forever." Yes, my son is the coolest.)

06/22/2024

Zimmy: “I can’t decide which one I want to play with more”

06/22/2024

Zimmy loves to play fetch!

06/22/2024

Good morning Ziggy!

06/22/2024

Ready to play Maui boy?

06/22/2024

So true 🥰...!

06/22/2024

Thank you for your service❤❤

06/22/2024

Cannot say this often enough or loudly enough. Adopting a pet is a LIFETIME COMMITMENT! If you cannot do that, get yourself a stuffed toy…

True

06/22/2024

Summer’s here. Please, please, PLEASE do NOT leave kids or pets in parked cars. . . EVER. . . NOT EVEN FOR “JUST-A MINUTE!” Death can occur within minutes!

06/21/2024

Good morning Zimmy!