[ PET OHANA ]
Theme for the Hawaiian Humane Society's poster contest was "How I Show Kindness to Animals." Taking second place in the grade 3 to 4 category is Isabelle Charley (3rd grade, Honolulu Waldorf School), whose work is shown above in detail.
Pet bonanza
The expo is an event with
something to please all pet
lovers, young and old
Where can I learn more about nutrition for my pet? Who can teach my dog obedience? How can my cat learn to walk on a leash? Where should we take mom on Mother's Day?
This weekend's Hawaii Pet Expo is a once-a-year bonanza of pets and people, and an event with something to please the whole family. Sponsored by the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, Pet Expo will showcase Hawaii's passion for pets with a fashion show, cat show and dog show amidst a flea market of treats, toys, training tips, advice, apparel and accessories.
The Expo tomorrow and Sunday is the perfect finale to the nationally celebrated Be Kind to Animals Week. Admission is free for pets and humans.
Hawaii Pet Expo 2004
Sponsored by the Hawaii Veterinary Medical AssociationWhere: Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday
Admission: Free; non-perishable food donations will be accepted for Hawaii Food Bank
Call: 845-1762
In addition to taking advantage of the great deals on pet products, expo-goers can take care of some important pet business as well. Owners can update their contact information for their pet's microchip at the Hawaiian Humane Society booth. Microchips helped the society to reunite about 4,000 lost pets with their owners in 2003.
Winners from the Be Kind to Animals Week poster contest will also be on display there.
Be Kind to Animals Week began in 1915 as the nation's first "awareness week." The United States was in the midst of World War I, and people felt a need for a more peaceful existence. Each year, Americans renew a pledge of kindness to all living creatures.
Everyone can make a difference in the lives of animals. Here are some ways to show kindness:
» Never tolerate animal cruelty.
» Speak out for animals.
» Spay or neuter your pets.
» Keep your pets' vaccinations current.
» Identify your pets with tags and microchip ID.
» Teach your friends about the importance of being kind to animals.
Summer Scott (2nd grade, Hanahauoli School) took first place in grades K-2. See the winner's list.
Each year, the humane society educators visit with more than 12,000 schoolchildren, teachers and adults. The Hawaiian Humane Society's poster contest encourages kids in grades K through 6 to illustrate "How I show kindness to animals."
"All 900 entries captured many of the feelings that animals evoke in people," said Kathy Rothschild, the society's administrator of humane education. "Their originality made judging difficult. The winning posters show love and compassion for wild animals and household pets."
From April 5 through 8, the 47th Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair at Blaisdell Center offered another venue for the society's educators to recognize projects displaying humane values, as well as creativity and compassion.
Sixth-grader Megan Brittney McGill, of Sunset Beach Elementary, took first place for her project exploring the feral cat population. Inspired by the feral cats she saw in her neighborhood, she discovered some solutions that can help the society's feral cat program and now understands the importance of giving every cat a proper home and loving care.
A trio of 12th-graders from Kapolei High School collaborated to study the effects of various stimuli on the learning rates of mice. Kristen Dollente, Bianca Delprado and Ferelei Zampaga found that mice learned faster when exposed to classical music. They extrapolated that classical music could be good for child development as well.
Rothschild summarized the importance of learning to be kind, saying: "We want people to remember that promoting kindness toward animals goes beyond just daily pet care.
"It means loving one another and ensuring a better life for the future. It means that every one of us can make a difference in someone else's life as we lead by example. It means that we should celebrate every day as if it were Be Kind to Animals Week."
Kelly Mok, a third grader at Holy Nativity School, won first place in the grades 3 to 4 category of the Hawaiian Humane Society's poster contest.
"Pet Ohana" runs the first and third Fridays of the month. The Hawaiian Humane Society is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals. They are at 2700 Waialae Ave. Call 946-2187.
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Poster contest winners
Grades K-2
First Place: Summer Scott, Hanahauoli School, grade 2Second Place: Suley "Sharon" Michael, Linapuni Elementary School, grade 1
Third Place (tie): Suzanna Lawhorn, grade 2, Hanahauoli School, grade 2
Third Place (tie): Kimberly Stacey, grade 2, Manoa Elementary School, grade 2
Grades 3-4
First Place: Kelly Mok, Holy Nativity School, grade 3Second Place: Isabelle Charley, Honolulu Waldorf School, grade 3
Third Place: Kristen Lee, Mililani Mauka Elementary School, grade 3
Grades 5-6
First Place: Aly Brahe, Aikahi Elementary School, grade 6Second Place: Allison Frisch, Kamiloiki Elementary School, grade 6
Third Place: Tori Borengasser, Heeia Elementary School, grade 5
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[ HAWAII PET EXPO 2004 ]
Willie, Annie Inouye's dog, shows off a basket of biodegradable Oops I Pooped bags. Inouye will be featuring these at the weekend's Pet Expo.
Eco-friendly poop bags
It's not exactly Va-Poo-rize, that miracle spray that caused messy, unsightly doggie do to disintegrate -- to where? -- in the Ben Stiller-Jack Black flick, "Envy," but Maryellen Howe had a similar idea while walking her dogs in L.A.
She had made a habit out of scooping the dog poop into plastic bags, but it occurred to her the poop wasn't really the problem. As an organic "product," the poop would disintegrate into the earth, but the plastic bags might sit in a landfill for a hundred years.
An idea clicked and Oops I Pooped, a biodegradable, eco-friendly poop bag, was born.
Howe found a kindred spirit in Hawaii resident Annie Inouye, who is the local distributor for the product. She will be featuring Oops I Pooped bags at the Hawaii Pet Expo tomorrow and Sunday, and handing out free samples.
Inouye considers herself a friend to the environment, having been an avid recycler since the first Earth Day was established back in the '70s.
"I remember my brother and I washing out tuna cans to turn in for a school recycling project.
"The recent media coverage about the Kapaa Quarry and Waimanalo Dump got me thinking about what will happen when we surpass the capacity to dump trash. We'll be trash for sure -- one trash heap. The same plastic bag I threw away today will still be in the landfill in 2024! Or longer."
If you miss the expo, you can find the bags at Bark Avenue at Koko Marina. Other retail outlets will follow.
* * * Also among the exhibitors will be the Wild Bird Rehab Haven. The small group of volunteer wild bird rehabilitators can be called on for feeding, medicating and cleaning sick, injured and baby wild birds.
While most birds recover and are eventually released, about 10 to 15 percent have permanent disabilities and cannot return to the wild. The numbers of birds in need of care can be overwhelming, and while one volunteer has cared for up to 70 birds at one time in her studio apartment, others have played mother hen to feral ducklings, chickens and even an occasional turkey.
The nonprofit Wild Bird Rehab Haven has found a permanent site on 1.8 acres in Waianae Valley, but its goal is to raise $30,000 by June 1 to cover its first six months of rent, utilities and supplies.
For more information, call director Linda Leveen at 923-6034.
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