Cat owner needs to find home for pet

Question: I am moving and desperately need to find a home for my cat. What are my options?

Answer: Before surrendering your beloved animal companion, weigh your options.

If you are staying on the island, the availability of pet-friendly housing is growing considerably. The Hawaiian Humane Society's Web site (www.hawaiianhumane.org) provides a listing of rentals throughout Oahu that allow pets. A list of buildings, designed for use in conjunction with classified ads, is also available on the Web site. Friends might be able to share rental suggestions, or consider running an advertisement seeking pet-friendly housing.

If you need temporary care, you could be eligible for fostering assistance through the society's Pals or Pets for Patriots program. Pals volunteers provide pet care for those who are temporarily hospitalized, dealing with an emergency situation or fleeing domestic violence.

Military personnel deploying on short notice due to war are eligible for Pets for Patriots, a program that matches volunteers with pets for temporary care. The program can also help relocate your pet to the mainland so a relative or friend can look after it.

If surrendering your cat is your only option, rest assured that the Humane Society does not turn animals away. Our open-access shelter provides temporary care for lost and homeless animals of all kinds.

Although minimum holding times are established by law for cats and dogs, most of our animals stay with us much longer while we try to find them a new home or return them to their rightful owner.

Never abandon an animal.

Q: If I surrender my cat to the Humane Society, what are its chances of getting adopted?

A: In 2006, approximately 95 percent of animals made available for adoption found homes -- that's nearly 6,000 pets placed with loving families.