Dogs available for Adoption on Kauai

These dogs are available for adoption at Kauai Humane Society.  I am still photographing dogs at KHS, and the dogs themselves give me hope. They know something isn't right, but are enthusiastic any way and seem to be making the best of their situation. 


Kushka has gained some weight and she is growing up! She was relocated into the large dog area but can't be more than 30lbs, she'll probably always be a petite Airedale. Despite her long stay at KHS, she is coming along, still timid with other dogs but very friendly with people. She wants so badly to play with the other dogs (and horses,) and incredibly submissive. It is obvious that she was never socialized before she arrived, but I have no doubt that she'd be good with other animals. She loves to play and will amuse herself with toys. The signs of neglect have diminished and her coat has grown in healthy with tones of apricot, beige and white. She is still a puppy at heart.


Pepper is still available too, another Airedale mix, also on the smaller size, maybe 40 lbs or so. She has beautiful colors, a little bit of everything, like a calico cat. Pepper is 2 years old and it's hard to imagine someone giving her up, she is so sweet and loving. She obviously learned this before she arrived, and I can't help wonder who taught her to love and then didn't love her anymore. I try not to judge and I don't research the intake notes on these dogs, but not because I don't want to know. Pepper is in dog training class too, basic commands are new to her, but her enthusiasm and willingness to please make her an excellent student. One photograph shows her learning to shake for the first time, a special moment when she understood she had followed a command correctly. 


Airedales seem to be "in" right now, Opal is all black with expressive deep brown eyes. She is a little bigger, maybe 55 lbs or so but on the lean side. Well, most of the dogs are lean... Opal is a little fearful of some dogs, but once she gets to know another social dog she relaxes. I didn't know much about this breed, and found a link on Airedale's:  http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/airedale.htm All 3 of them have a gentle kind nature.


Small dogs seem to get adopted quicker. As a small dog owner I understand why. They require less exercise, less food and they leave less mess but love just as much. Birdie, Beebee and Cynthia have been available for a couple weeks. Birdie has been seen on the blog before, she is hanging in there, at 10 years old she still has energy and enthusiasm. Every time I look at her she reminds me of Blanche from the Golden Girls.  Cynthia is a shorthair rat terrier and has a lot of energy. It was a little challenging to get her to sit for her photograph. But then all these dogs are a little challenging in that area, without owners to handle them or give direction I just wait for them to be themselves and try to capture those moments. Beebee is a little ragamuffin lapdog, so cute.


Kimo and Otis are both happy active black&white boy dogs that just want to have fun. Kimo is especially good with direction and knows how to calm himself when appropriate. I was very impressed with seeing him go from full on play to politely sitting down when a family of 5 wanted to check him out. A couple small children started petting him from different directions and he was tolerant and gentle, I was disappointed when they left without him ;(. Otis loves water, he'd swim in his waterbowl if it was big enough and would surely fit in with a waterman's routine. His eyes are light brown with a little hazel, unique.


It was a pleasure to spend the time with these beings. I don't think about them not finding homes because it doesn't seem possible that their perfect someone isn't out there. Sometimes dogs come into our lives when we least expect it or think we can handle it. Today I'll be making posters with their pictures to display in the community, and I hope their someone sees them before it's to late.