video: Charity Rescues Hawaii’s Homeless Pets and Flies Them to Portland

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Kimo

Kimo, one of the dogs from "Wings of Aloha"

The Maui Humane Society (MHS) has created a unique program, called “Wings of Aloha,” to help the homeless animals of Maui and Hawaii. And they want Oregonians to help out.

Or at least they want Oregonians to provide their flight information if they are flying on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines from Maui to Portland.

To be exact, MHS needs airline passengers name, phone number, email address, flight date and flight confirmation.

That information allows MHS to fly rescued animals to rescue partners to Portland and other cities who participate in their program (and guarantee adoption) at a much lower rate than if the pets were to fly solo. It’s a win for the animals. And something someone traveling to Oregon can do with little effort.

During a week in July of this year, 15 dogs made it from Maui to Oregon and Southwest Washington rescue shelters. And in 2013 that number was 183, far outpassing any other city in the program. The local area shelters include Portland’s Pixie Project, Willamette Humane Society in Salem, Tender Care Animal Rescue in Vancouver, and All Terrier Rescue of Oregon and Washington.

Here’s how the program works: Passengers heading to Portland provide their name, phone number, email address, flight date and flight confirmation  code to the Maui Humane Society. MHS staff will contact their rescue partners in the Portland area to confirm their ability  to accept pet(s) from the flight. Then, MHS staff will contact the airline to reserve space on the flight for a pet. 

Two hours before take-off MHS staff will meet the seated passenger at the airline check-in counter. MHS will bring the pet, kennel and all travel documents and ensure check in goes  smoothly (the pet will not accompany people in the passenger cabin). Upon arriving in Portland, passengers can pick up luggage and continue traveling as usual and a rescue partner will pick up the pet at the baggage claim area in Portland and take it to a shelter.

It’s really that simple. And frequent flyers can help save many lives. What better way is there for animals in need to fly the friendly skies than with a new friend from Oregon.

For information on Wings of Aloha or other ways to help Maui’s pets, please contact:  [email protected]

Banner Photo Credit: Wings of Aloha

Related Slideshow: Slideshow: Jet Set Pets

The Maui Humane Society has created a unique program, called “Wings of Aloha,” to help the homeless animals of Maui and Hawaii. And they want Oregonians to help out.

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