Cassondra “Cassie” Christman adores the animals she tends to every week as a volunteer of Maui Humane Society. She moved to the Islands in 2015 and began serving at the shelter that takes in 5,000 animals a year in January 2022, shortly after the loss of her Australia Shepherd. “Rocky” was 7 years old when he died from cancer, she recalled.
“It was immersive from the start. I came to MHS from like 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day for weeks,” Christman told Aloha State Daily. “My roles were always with the dogs, helping take them out to the yards or to the beach, writing their online biographies, taking their pictures. I think that’s one of my favorite things to do is the capturing of them and then I love to share it.”
She said she’s also a dog walker and aids the enrichment team with pet-friendly activities.
“It adds routine to their day to day and keeps them physically and mentally sharp,” explained Victoria Ivankic, director of marketing and communications.
Ivankic told ASD, “I see Cassie as an extension of our marketing team in a way. She is really good about capturing the really silly, happy moments with the animals and showing the human-to-animal bond.”
In a follow-up email to ASD, Christman added she also enjoys “helping with dog playgroup, assisting with adoptions and meet and greets, assisting with fosters and foster meet and greets, searching for and finding missing foster dogs or adoption trial dogs that have ran away, taking our high need dogs to training off site (at dogs choice training), sending marketing footage.”
“[I] post every day on [my] Instagram story some promos for the dogs, reply to fellow volunteers and fosters via social media that message me or reach out to me, drive MHS dogs to foster or adoption homes if they are scared, take dogs to outreach events, help [MHS’] transfer coordinator with extra care transfers to the airport, driving them comforting them and getting them in the kennel. … [I] send footage to transfer partners on the Mainland, help the dog kennel staff [by] handing out toys in the kennel, bringing in dogs from the yards they are in during the day."
When asked about the response to her Sept. 3 Instagram reel seeking support for dogs from Molokai, Christman said “online was strong,” though it didn’t completely fill the need to find adoption or foster families for the 26 dogs in short-term kennels.
“Every week we’re trying to bring the dogs over more and more, while balancing all the strays coming in on Maui and Lānaʻi,” she said. "It’s why I continue to voice what’s happening on Molokai because its a continued effort.”
Christman also took it to Instagram to feature dogs from Molokai who were adopted.
“Shelters nationwide are dealing with overcapacity, and on Molokai there’s a veterinary shortage, so on top of being on an island with limited resources and the county still recovering for the fires, it feels like an uphill battle every single day. But then you have a great win,” Ivankic said
Thinking of adopting a pet from Maui? It’s not as difficult as you may think, according to MHS.
“We specialize in off-island adoptions and also transporting animals inter-island and to the Mainland, Ivankic continued. “Since the wildfires, we’ve seen that people are still invested in Maui and adopting Maui dogs.
Christman chimed in, “We have a transfer coordinator who goes above and beyond with details for pricing, flight plan, boarding facility, etc.”
ASD asked them both what they would say to someone on the fence about volunteering, or adopting and fostering?
Christman replied, “Just do it. There are a lot of different ways to contribute. Every little bit counts. It makes a difference. … Just come in.
Ivankic added, “I think some people have the perception of [the shelter] being a sad enviornment and that’s really not the case. That’s not been my experience here. Yes, it is a disappointment that these animals aren’t in homes, obviously, but we do so much to make their days better and brighter."
Violet is looking for a furever home with you! She came to Maui Humane Society back in April with 20 of her doggy friends, MHS said, adding that she's blossomed into a sweet, mellow girl, who loves gentle pets, tasty treats and her dog pack. Learn more about Violet here.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
