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. F 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!!)
