Donna Kaye
Field Trips With Dogs Kauai – Hawaii Island Humane Society tours are a fun and rewarding way to help a dog in need. Sharing your day with a shelter dog makes a huge difference in that pup’s life. From giving them a much-needed break at the shelter to helping them meet potential adopters, your new canine friend from the shelter will be lucky enough to spend time with you. Maddy’s Fund research shows that even a few hours away from a shelter can have a positive impact on shelter dogs. And what better way to fix your pup than with a day in paradise?
As a non-profit organization, the Hawaii Island Humane Society relies on the generosity of compassionate animal lovers like you. With your support, you will make our mission a reality and help our programs thrive. To support our rescue work, we ask that you donate to join our dog shelter outings. A donation will be collected at the time of collection.
Field Trips With Dogs Kauai
*Do you live on an island and want to constantly take the dogs for walks? Ask about the Loyal Field Trippers program!
Borrow A Shelter Dog For A Fieldtrip In Kauai
Guided tours are by appointment only. Appointments are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Animal Community Center in Holualoa and our Kiaou sanctuary.
To book a field trip, click the button below and select the exact location where you will be field tripping with a dog from the Shelter Dog Field Trip Traveler brochure provided by the Kauai Humane Society. For a small donation, people can take their adoptable dog out for a day (or more) of hiking, frolicking on the beach, or ice scraping. Having already been abroad in South Korea for two weeks, we were homesick and missing our beloved Yorkie mix, Yogi. We needed some pet therapy and a puppy was the perfect way to enjoy our last day on Garden Island.
The Kauai Humane Society is conveniently located 10 minutes west of Lihue. The knowledgeable staff keep the property well maintained and it is clear that they take pride in their daily work. Unlike animal sanctuaries in Southern California, where Chihuahuas and pit bulls abound, Kauai is occupied primarily by hunting dogs. I noticed a general trend of Airedales, Whippets and Hound mixes. These particular breeds were domesticated and trained to capture the feral pigs that proliferated on Kauai long ago. As the dog grew too large, they unfortunately drifted away. This is one of the reasons Kauai shelters struggle to care for the large number of homeless dogs. The shelter was founded in 1952 and takes in about 3,000 animals a year.
Note: Below are hours of operation for January 2024. Check the Kauai Humane Society website for the most up-to-date information. Open Friday to Wednesday, temporarily closed every Thursday from 11:00 am. to 5:30 p.m.
Adopt A Dog For A Day In Kauai
The shelter will open one hour before the time listed above. But, at that moment the dogs are not seen. As suggested by several locals, we plan to arrive an hour early to have a better chance of choosing a dog we know.
You will notice different colored markings in the kennel area letting you know which dogs belong to which puppy. These are dogs at least 6 months old, all current vaccinations and spayed or neutered.
Whenever I visit any animal shelter, I have to mentally prepare myself for extreme pain and weakness. I felt so much attention from each of the dogs that I tried to spend at least a minute or two with each of them. But as soon as I saw Muriel in the corner, I instantly fell in love. Muriel was a shy 10-month-old hound mix with a beautiful caramel coat and an infectious smile. We checked her tag to make sure she was puppy ready and quickly flagged down a staff member.
First, you must be at least 18 years old to participate in Kauai Humane Society tours for shelter dogs. You must sign a liability waiver and provide credit card information for a $200 deposit if the dog is lost. The shelter asks for a minimum non-refundable donation of $40.
The Kaua’i Humane Society’s News!
After you sign the disclaimer, the staff will individually brief you on the important points you need to know:
Your dog is designed in a bright orange outfit that says “adopt me” to let potential adopters know he’s looking for a loving home. The staff will also pack a bag with all the dogs you need for your adventure:
Prohibited areas include Koke State Park, Waimea Canyon, Salt Pond Park and any county-maintained parks or beaches. Use your best judgment when deciding where to browse. If there has been recent rain in the area, avoid walking on rough trails where heavy mud can make conditions slippery for you and your dog.
When we left the Kauai Humane Society, Muriel seemed a little scared at first. I could even smell our own dog on our clothes. However, once we got into our jeep, we warmed up immediately. He knew we were going to have a great adventure!
Kauai For Dog Lovers: Fur Ever Friends
We were hoping to get to the Sleeping Giant Trail last, as it had slowed down the night before and we didn’t want Muriel wading through wet puddles. Instead, we decided to take her for a quieter walk along Po’ipu Beach and the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail, 20 minutes south of the lodge.
As we happily walked along the beach, we saw a group of people pointing towards the ocean and taking pictures. They saw honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) swimming around the cove feeding on limu (seaweed). Some of them were several meters long! We spent the morning hanging out on the beach and playing with his favorite stuffed animal.
Unfortunately, we only had two hours to spend with Muriel as we had a flight to catch in the afternoon. I immediately started missing him.
We both found a common interest in long walks on the beach and fresh, salty air! A match made in heaven!
The Kauai Humane Society: Dog Field Trip/short Term Fostering Grant Report
A few weeks later, my husband looked Muriel up on the Kauai Humane Society website and realized she was no longer available. I had a strong feeling it would find a new home soon. It’s inevitable that someone will fall in love with your sweet demeanor and positive energy.
I fully support shelter dog outings because it allows the animals to get fresh air and exercise. The program has shown much promise, resulting in hundreds of adoptions across the country. The shelter adopts an average of four dogs each month after an unforgettable excursion. After the success of Kauai, the Maui Humane Society created a similar field trip program called Beach Buddies. If you are interested, these shelters will even help you in the process of getting your dog home safely. As travelers who are always looking for ways to give back to the local communities we visit, we were excited to learn about the Kauai Humane Society. Shelter Dog Field Trip” from a friend who recently adopted a Kawayan dog after their trip. We have always been interested in adopting dogs, especially after working at a dog rescue in the US and adopting our little Asher from Texas (both stories for another time).
This puppy date was built into our schedule as a “day off” where we went at our own pace with no set schedule and spent the whole day with our dog. We had an amazing experience and wanted to share our knowledge, experiences and advice. Hopefully you’ll do a puppy day while traveling (or even locally if you have a program where you live) and maybe even adopt your own rescue dog!
According to the Kauai Humane Society, there are more dogs on Kauai than people. Many of them were once bred to hunt wild boar. When hunting dogs are not trained or get too big, they are left on the street. Because Hawaii has such a mild climate, these dogs can survive on the streets for a while until they starve and are picked up and brought to shelters. This problem has brought shelters to critical capacity, where there are not enough spaces and adequate care for stray dogs.
Kauai Humane Society’s Borrow A Dog In Hawaii
This non-profit animal shelter was founded in 1952
Kauai snorkel trips, kauai helicopter trips, kauai day trips, trips to kauai, summer camps with field trips, day trips from kauai, boat trips in kauai, kauai trips all inclusive, kauai fishing trips, package trips to kauai, boat trips kauai, kauai trips