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In
the two weeks since fountains of lava and poisonous gas spewed
from the volcano, volunteers have made heroic efforts to
retrieve a veritable Noah's Ark of dogs and cats, geese and
ducks, cows and goats, horses, cattle and exotic birds. Many
were reuniting with their owners at evacuation shelters.
The animal-friendly Red Cross shelter in Pahoa, a town about 25
miles (40 km) east of the volcano, has about 100 dogs and 30
cats, along with bunnies, birds and pigs, said Burgandy
Singleton, a Hawaii Island Humane Society volunteer.
"Quite the crazy farm right now," Singleton said. "We are
housing everything from wee little creatures to ginormous beasts
and no trouble. With that many personalities mixing it up, it’s
been amazing.”
Some of the owners are camping outside with dogs who are not
socialized, she said. "It gives them a sense of home and keeps
them as peaceful as possible. This is definitely stressful on
the pets as well as the people."
LURING THE HUNGRY
Pauline McLaren and her husband Eddie are among those camping
out at the Red Cross Shelter with their five dogs, all of whom
they have rescued over the years at their ranch in the village
of Kapoho. They evacuated on May 12, when lava fissures tore
open the ground near their home.
Pauline McLaren said they would have stayed with friends but for
the dogs. “It’s such a hassle. It’s just so hard with five,”
said McLaren who is sleeping in a tent while her husband sleeps
in the car.
The rescues begin with volunteers taking down addresses and pet
names from owners at the shelters. They then go into the
abandoned neighborhoods with owners looking for the pets and
setting out food and water, hoping to lure in hungry animals.
"Ideally, we take the owner back in so they can hear a familiar
voice and we can hand-trap them,” rather than luring them into
cages, Singleton said. "We are trying every trick from every
book."
She said she helped rescue four sheep and two goats stranded out
in a pasture last week. "The lava was running right behind them
and they were trapped inside their fence."
The rescuers had to evacuate before they could catch the last
sheep, but left the gate open so she could escape danger.
OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY
At another animal shelter at the county parks and recreation gym
in Pahao, tents have been set up inside to give families some
privacy and keep dogs away from each other, Singleton said. A
donation table at the entrance was piled high with bags of dry
dog and cat litter.
“This is the reason I live in this community," Singleton said.
"The offerings and the help has been unbelievable."
Some of the larger livestock are being housed at the Hawaii
County-funded Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, which has
taken in 30 to 35 cattle and horses. The close-knit community is
helping to feed them.
“We have three pallets of alfalfa for the horses being donated
today," said Pam Mizuno at the zoo. "That’s helpful. The
outpouring of generosity really helps.”
Rescue groups have moved more than 1,300 head of cattle and
three dozen horses, some of which have been herded to a ranch to
the north, out of danger. Some horses are being sheltered at the
Panaewa Equestrian Center, also to the north.
The livestock are even more jittery than the house pets,
Singleton said. "From the earthquakes to the smoke and lava to
the helicopters overhead, they are just spooked."
Singleton, who lives about 20 miles away from the lava zone,
said it is important for pets to stay with their families.
"They both get something from it. Sometimes they have lost every
single thing they own other than that dog or cat. It’s the one
piece of home they still have, the one piece holding them
together. And the pets feel the same way.”
(Additional reporting by Terray Sylvester; Writing by Bill
Tarrant; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Lisa Shumaker)
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