[PET OHANA]
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Retired orthopedic surgeon Bob Simmons is one of dogs' best friends. He and his dog Coco started visiting patients at Castle Hospital where he worked, in the belief that animals can help the healing process. Rub an ear and help
a furry friendBy Hawaiian Humane Society
By February 1998 he began volunteering as a groomer in the Hawaiian Humane Society's animal care department, bathing and brushing animals.
"The job is a bit physical, and the groomer sometimes gets as wet as the dog, but the results are worth it," he said. Once clean, dogs are more attractive to potential adopters. Simmons was so committed to grooming that he became a trainer for other volunteer groomers.
Then in October 1999, McInerny Dog Park opened, and Simmons became the first Park Pal for the off-leash dog park. Park Pals oversee the people and pooches in the grassy one-third acre, ensuring harmony and fun for everyone. As before, Simmons again became a trainer for future Park Pals volunteers.
In early 2000, a new volunteer position was created, and Simmons was there at the head of the line to become a "dog exerciser." In this position, he came to the shelter weekday mornings and took the dogs into the off-leash park before it opened to the public. If there were two or three dogs in one kennel, Simmons would take all of them to the park together. As soon as the park's gate was latched, he'd remove the leashes, and the dogs would hit the grass running. Exercise is as important for reducing animals' stress as it is for humans.
Simmons' volunteer efforts were rewarded every day by the joyous leaps of the dogs and, last October, with the Helen Kinau Wilder Friendship Award, named after the Hawaiian Humane Society's founder and bestowed on true friends of the animals.
Recently, Simmons became a "dog trainer," which finds him socializing shelter dogs and teaching them good manners as they learn to understand basic commands to sit, stay, lie down and walk on a leash. Volunteers who have worked with the animals for six months or more may apply for this position. The training is documented so the pet's new family will know what kind of behavior to expect from their new friend, as well as how to continue the training.
Additional volunteers spend hours helping the shelter's cats, rabbits and guinea pigs become accustomed to being handled. The new shelter animal behavior program will help animals get adopted and stay adopted. There are many more opportunities for volunteers who would like to work with animals.
"We have more than 400 active volunteers at the Humane Society," said Gayle Puou, coordinator of volunteers, "and each is valuable to the care and happiness of the animals."
A former volunteer at the Humane Society herself, Puou has been in charge of the volunteers there for more than a year.
If you are interested in volunteering, call or stop by the humane society on your island. Cheerful "meows" and wagging tails are just some of the thanks volunteers receive from their work.
Want a temporary pet?
Training begins soon for foster-care volunteers to provide care for young kittens in their own homes. Hundreds of kittens will need foster care from March through the summer, the peak of the breeding season in Hawaii.Kittens typically will need two to three weeks of foster care until they can be made available for adoption. Raised with this high level of attention, fostered animals grow to be comfortable with humans.
Volunteering offers preparation for parents with children who are asking for a pet but are not ready for a long-term commitment.
For volunteer applications, call the following:
>> Oahu: Visit 2700 Waialae Ave. or call 946-2187, ext. 216. Forms can be downloaded from the Web site at www.hawaiianhumane.org.
>> Maui: Call 808-877-3680
>> Kauai: Call 808-632-0610
>> Big Island: Call 808-966-5458 in Hilo or 808-329-1175 in Kona
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