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Field Trips With Dogs Kauai – As travelers who are always looking for ways to give back to the local communities we visit, we were thrilled to hear about the Kauai Humane Society’s “Field Trip for Shelter Dogs” program through a friend who recently adopted a Kauai dog. travel. We have always been passionate about adopting dogs, especially after doing a dog rescue mission in the US and adopting our little Asher from Texas (both stories for another time).
This dog day was perfectly integrated into our schedule as a “rest day”, where we went at our own pace, without a fixed agenda, and spent the whole day with our dog. We had such an amazing experience that we wanted to share our lessons, experiences and tips. We hope you will spend a dog day while traveling (or even locally if there is a program at your place of residence) and maybe even adopt your own rescue dog!
Field Trips With Dogs Kauai
Kauai has more dogs than people, according to the Kauai Humane Society. Many of them were once bred to hunt wild boar. When the hundred could not be found and they were too old, they were released into the streets. In Hawaii’s mild climate, dogs survive on the streets for a while until they starve, are picked up, and taken to the shelter. The problem has spread to reaching critical capacity in shelters, where there simply isn’t enough room to house and properly care for more stray dogs.
Field Trips For Shelter Dogs
The non-profit animal shelter was founded in 1952 and is the only open animal shelter on Kauai. It takes in dogs, cats and other animals of various breeds and partners with no-kill shelters, which is important because many shelters are forced to euthanize select animals when they are overwhelmed. The Kauai Humane Society does an amazing job of engaging the community through various programs, even for non-adoptable dogs, such as boarding and day passes to the dog park. The shelter helps about 3,000 animals every year!
Location: 3-825 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766. The shelter is approximately a 10-minute drive from the Kauai Lihue Airport. If you’re short on time, you can plan around the time you land or depart from Kauai.
Cost: $40 donation to support humane society operations. There are different levels of donations ($40 to $300) that can include food for the dog or even sponsoring the dog’s flight to Hawaii mainland for children.
The Kauai Humane Society will provide a backpack with all the supplies you need.
When Your Vacation Happily Goes To The Dogs
We traveled to Kauai shortly after Covid restrictions were lifted (September 2022) so some precautions are still in place. For one, the staff chose a dog for us, whereas pre-Covid visitors could enter the kennel area and choose a dog they felt connected to. It was a bit disappointing but it made the day less emotional as I’m sure we would have been very touched to see so many homeless dogs and wanted to give them all a home. Only very serious sightings are allowed on the island.
Booking and donating online was seamless when we entered the building. The staff asked about our plans for the day (hiking of course) and returned with Tigger, our new buddy for the day.
Tiger was a beautiful hound mix with dark orange/brown stripes that made him look like a tiger from behind. As soon as our eyes met, we knew we had a friend in him! Tigris was very friendly with people from the beginning. You could tell he had done this many times before and was excited to meet new people who would take him on a new adventure. We later learned that Tigris was one of the longest-staying dogs at the shelter (over 100 days when we met him).
We got the Tigger around 11am and by the time we got through the briefings and introductions it was lunch time. Cravings for seafood called, so we visited a local hidden gem, Konohiki Seafoods, and had the most amazing pork laulau with a plate and fresh chirashi. Tigger waited patiently with Geoff in front of the restaurant, and in the first 15 minutes with the dog, many people inquired about Tigger and his “Adopt Me” harness. We were able to easily share the Kauai Humane Society and spoiler alert – at the end of the day we found the local couple (who we met at the restaurant) at the shelter looking for an adoptable dog!
Kauai Travel Guide: 4 Day Kauai Itinerary
After lunch, Sleeping Giant (Nou Nou) Mountain is our chosen excursion for the day. We wanted something challenging that was still suitable for dogs, so we chose this suggestion. The Sleeping Giant East route was 5.5 km long, with an elevation gain of 293 meters, classified as difficult, with a timing of approximately 2.5 hours. This route is only recommended if the weather is good and it hasn’t rained recently, otherwise the road would be very slippery.
It took Tigger a while to get used to walking with us; He either pulls ahead or laughs behind him. As dog parents and former foster parents, we have experience in dog behavior and training. However, these skills are not necessary for cross-country walking, as long as you have basic dog walking skills and can adapt to the dog and read its body language.
Tigris eventually got into a rhythm, but it was so humid and hot that even this Hawaiian dog couldn’t walk more than 3 km! We turned back even though we were almost at the top because it was important that Tigger was safe and comfortable with us. While Tigris was drinking water and eating treats, the staff let us know that most dogs don’t use the bathroom when they’re out and about because they’re a little nervous. Tigris proved them right and we don’t have to jump behind them.
Tigris was a magnet all along. People came to us and talked about it. It was such an organic way to spread the word about the Kauai Humane Society. We didn’t see any other dogs on the trail, which was helpful because it’s important that shelter dogs don’t meet other dogs.
This Is Ruth After A Long Day At The Beach. She Is Up For Adoption At The Kauai Humane Society, Where They Allow Shelter Dog Field Trips For Kauai Tourists Like Me. :
The trail was about a 30 minute drive from the lodge, but we headed back an hour before the cutoff. Rush hour traffic in Lihue is notorious for being inaccurately depicted on Google Maps. We advise you to return early to avoid a late penalty. When we returned to the Kauai Humane Society, we filled out a short form detailing Tigger’s likes, dislikes, and behaviors to help the staff gather up-to-date information for future adopters.
It was hard to say goodbye to Tigris, but we knew he would be accepted because he is such a good boy. We recently checked the Humane Society website and found out that she was adopted a few months after we saw her. Our hearts were so full after the experience and we would do it again in a heartbeat.
What do you think of this budget-friendly day trip to Kauai? Would you like to take part in a dog trip? As my husband and I were planning how to spend our last day in Kauai, I came across a travel brochure about shelter dog tours sponsored by the Kauai Humane Society. In exchange for a small donation, they can take a kid-ready dog for a day (or more) for a walk, to the beach, or even on shaved ice! Since we’ve been abroad in South Korea for two weeks, we’ve been homesick and missing our precious Yorkie mix, Yogi. We are in serious need of animal therapy and a dog day was the perfect way to enjoy our last day on the Garden Isle.
The Kauai Humane Society is conveniently located just 10 minutes west of Lihue. The expert staff ensure that the shelter is kept healthy and it is clear that they take pride in their work every day. Unlike animal shelters in Southern California, which house many stray chihuahuas and pit bulls, Kauai is occupied mainly by hunting dogs. I have noticed a general trend of Airedales, Whippet and Hound mixes. It appears that these particular breeds were once bred and trained to breed wild hogs, which proliferated on Kaua’i long ago. When the dog got too old to take care of itself, they unfortunately ended up as strays. This is one of the reasons Kauai shelters struggle to care for the large number of homeless dogs. Founded in 1952, the shelter takes in around 3,000 animals every year!
Suggestions For Dog Field Trip
Please note: Below you will find opening hours for January 2024. Check the Kauai Humane Society website for the most up-to-date information. Open from Friday to Wednesday Temporarily closed on Thursday 11:00
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