COURTESY PHOTO / MAY 2002 The 2-year-old terrier mix, who made international headlines when she was rescued from a drifting tanker, is in quarantine on Kauai.

Star treatment

The rescued dog has made fast friends
during her quarantine on Kauai

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By Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.com

Hok Get, the castaway dog whose rescue made international headlines, has gained two pounds in quarantine and "thrives with attention," said Dr. Becky Rhoades, director of the Kauai Humane Society.

"She's right now at ideal weight; we don't want her to gain anymore," Rhoades said.

The 2-year-old terrier mix arrived at the Kauai Humane Society on May 6 and is scheduled to be released from the mandatory state quarantine on Aug. 30.

The crew of the tugboat American Quest rescued Hok Get from a disabled tanker after she had been inadvertently left behind when the ship's crew was rescued by a passing cruise ship.

The Humane Society launched an unsuccessful search for Hok Get that cost about $50,000. Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman Eve Holt said donors have reimbursed the Humane Society for the cost of the search and rescue effort.

"We've all gotten very attached to her," Rhoades said. She said Hok Get is a sociable dog who loves to play and "wants you to be with her all the time."

Michael Kuo, a friend of Hok Get's original owner Captain Chung Chin-po, said he's looking forward to Hok Get's arrival at his home after the dog gets out of quarantine. He and his family will take care of Hok Get until Chung comes back to Honolulu.

A director at the Hawaiian Humane Society arranged for a large doghouse with a shingled roof to be built by Gentry Homes and it was delivered to his back yard yesterday, Kuo said.

He visited with Hok Get last month.

"She's fine. She's great," he said. Kuo said he was "very grateful" to the Humane Society for taking care of the dog.

Rhoades said Hok Get is a favorite of schoolchildren and other visitors to the Kauai Humane Society.

She sleeps on top of a cabinet and loves to look out the window and barks at birds, Rhoades said. While Hok Get can't play directly with other dogs because she is still in quarantine, she enjoys seeing other dogs and can interact with other dogs on the other side of a large fence.

Hok Get is housebroken and is learning to walk on a leash, she said.

Rhoades said Hok Get likes rawhide chews and Kong toys, which are rubber chew toys that she fills with peanut butter that Hok Get can lick out .

"She's a big fan of peanut butter," Rhoades said.