Anything can happen in the field. Greater Good Charities understands how crises evolve, creating ripples that impact every facet of a community––from families to pets to wildlife––and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt.
In Kaua’i, what started as an effort to provide spay and neuter services for feral cats and local pet owners grew into something much more. As we spent time on the island, talked to locals, and observed the impact of COVID-19 and recent disasters on the community, we made it our mission to help in every way we could.
Endangered Birds and Free Roaming Cats
Between year 1993 and year 2013, the Hawaiian Petrel population declined by 78%, earning them a spot on the endangered species list. Found only on the islands, the protection of these seabirds is a high priority for conservation groups and the native population.
Meanwhile, cat overpopulation is a widespread problem on the Hawaiian Islands. These colonies sometimes prey on native wildlife. This is a problem for local communities, too. Feral or free-roaming animal overpopulation leads to health problems, including infectious disease spread, injury, and human-animal conflict.
Cats reproduce quickly, with the average cat having 2-3 litters per year with 1-8 kittens in a litter. To improve the health and wellness of free-roaming cats––and to reduce conflict with humans and native wildlife––Greater Good Charities’ spay/neuter team launched into action.
The Kaua’i Spay/Neuter Operation
Heading into Kaua’i, Greater Good Charities’ mission was simple: decrease the free-roaming cat population through mass trap/neuter/release programs and high-quality/high-volume spay and neuter across the island.
Knowing that the stabilization of the free-roaming cat populations would help with the overall health of the community, we deployed our expert team of trappers and surgeons to conduct a series of three spay/neuter clinics on Kaua’i.
Our clinics targeted more than just free roaming and community cats. We provided services to owned pets as well.
It can cost hundreds of dollars to have a pet spayed or neutered, and for already disadvantaged communities, money like that is difficult to come by. By providing vouchers to local veterinarians, Greater Good Charities is able to provide those services at little to no cost for pet owners.
The number of sterilizations performed on the island in a typical year is only 1,000. In September and October of 2021, we conducted 3 rounds of spay/neuter clinics and sterilized a total of 2,690 owned and free roaming cats in Kaua’i.
Seeing Gaps, Responding with Aid
Our time in Kaua’i would not end with our spay/neuter clinics. While on the island, our team began to understand that a broader need existed in the community. We talked to locals and realized there were other ways we could support them.
2021 was a difficult year for the Hawaiian Islands. In early March, Kaua’i was drenched with rain that caused a large landslide at a portion of Kuhio Highway, the only road leading in and out of Hanalei, and cut off all communities west of the Hanalei Bridge from the rest of the island.
At the same time, the impact of the pandemic on the food supply chain had hit Hawaiians especially hard, raising grocery prices on the islands by nearly 12% since spring of 2020, while the decline in tourism affected the income and job security of 15% of Hawaiians.
The decrease in income and increase in food costs stressed the ability of the island’s residents to provide nutritional food and essential supplies, not just for the people in their families, but for their pets as well.
Greater Good Charities provided the Hawaii Foodbank Kaua’i with pet food as well as Emergency Packs for people and pets to be distributed throughout the community.
“With the shortage of supply here on the island, having this bountiful delivery of pet food allowed ‘ohana of Kaua’i to have the supply needed, creating an immediate outcome of relief. By providing recipients with [Emergency] Packs, and their pets with pet food, they can focus on paying for further necessitates such as their rent or utilities” – Wes Perreira, Hawaii Foodbank Kaua‘i Director
Along with 300 people that received our Emergency Packs, the support from Greater Good Charities also allowed Hawaii Foodbank Kaua’i to serve a total of 1,480 animals.
Good Multiplies
From one crisis, a thousand more problems can emerge. But good also multiplies. One act of charity can always lead to another.
In Kaua’i, we arrived with the goal of providing spay and neuter services for a disadvantaged community with a feral cat problem. But on the island, through listening to local voices, we found additional need––and we adapted.
We continue to evolve with the needs of communities, and we’ll never stop searching for ways to increase our impact on people, animals, and the environment.