Kevin Clegg, who is born and raised in Kailua and now lives in town with two dogs, recalled his first interaction with the Hawaiian Humane Society 13 years ago, when he adopted a rat to comply with his condo’s pet rules.
“It was good in its cage, but my dream always was to have a little Pomeranian dog,” he told Aloha State Daily, noting he was later able to get a puppy from a pet owner and called her Tanuki.
That year for his birthday, Clegg asked his party guests to donate to Hawaiian Humane Society in lieu of gifts, which garnered funds, as well as pet food and supplies, and more.
“That was my first time really trying to give back,” said Clegg who works in retail management.
His second dog, Koguma, is an 8-year-old Maltese Yorkie foster. “Somebody was going to give him up and I said, ‘Oh, I’ll watch him until you find another owner.’ But then I ended up being a ‘foster fail’ because I kept him,” he said with a laugh.
But three years ago, being a pet parent fur-ever changed. Clegg discovered that his Pomeranian Tanuki was showing early stages of heart disease after she had a seizure at home.
“For me that was the catalyst. I thought my dog was going to die,” he told ASD. “That year was crazy for me, I felt like there was a time bomb going off and I wanted to do something to kind of prepare myself for her illness.”
That’s when he decided to retroact hard times with good intentions, he says, and became a Hawaiian Humane Society volunteer.
“It’s really given me the strength and courage to listen, learn and be a teacher,” he said. “Hawaiian Humane Society has helped me find true purpose. Now, when I’m a pet parent to animals getting older and sicker, I think to myself how lucky I am to care for them in their sickness. My commitment is to keeping all animals safe because in this life, health is wealth, which is what drives me.”
As an adoption volunteer, Clegg says he likes working with people, too, “guiding them on their journey to find their pet companion.” He also enjoys mentoring new volunteers and serving alongside like-minded, "inspiring" individuals.
There is always a need for more volunteers in varying positions and capacities — and it’s easy to apply, he says.
“If you love animals, it’s a great thing to be a part of. There are even people there who love to clean up dog poop, it brings them joy,” he notes. “As a volunteer, if somebody needs help folding towels or cleaning kennels or making food, I jump right into that area and give it my all, or more at 120%, which I learned as a leader at my job.”
According to Clegg, helping the Hawaiian Humane Society's mission to shelter, protect, rescue, reunite and rehomes animals is “pure happiness.”
“If you want to do something selfless, it’s going to come back 10 times. There’s something for you here if you want to come and experience what it’s like,” he said.
Those interested in volunteering or learning more can visit the Hawaiian Humane Society’s website. Follow Clegg on Instagram for pet advice and more.
Meet available dogs and the adoptions team in-person at these upcoming events:
- Dog Adoption Event at PetSmart Mililani on Saturday, Sept. 26
- Dog Adoption Event at Aloha Home Market on Sunday, Nov. 29
Animals up for adoption at Hawaiian Humane Society can also be visited daily from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. at both the Mōʻiliʻili Campus and the Kosasa Family Campus at Hoʻopili. To see pets currently up for adoption online, click here. Other ways for the community to get involved include foster programs like Couch Crashers and Lap Crashers, as well as Wags & Whiskers Wednesdays, among other initiatives. Registration is open for the annual Pet Walk; the fundraiser will be held on Oct. 24 at Kapiʻolani Park.
Check Instagram for updates on Flash Adoption Specials, like the one last weekend where all adoption fees were waived by VCA Animal Hospitals to make room for the animals arriving from the Kauaʻi Humane Society following Hurricane Lowell.
Anna Neubauer, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society, said at the time in a statement that pet such adoptions “opens a kennel and gives our staff and volunteers more capacity for the animals who remain, more one-on-one time for socialization, enrichment and the daily care that keeps them healthy and ready for adoption. That ripple is what lets us care for the animals already filling our campuses and step up for Kauaʻi at the same time. When one island is in need, we show up for each other, and our community makes that possible every time they choose to adopt."
To support the Kauaʻi Humane Society's relief and recovery efforts directly, go to: KauaiHumane.org.
Read another volunteer perspective from the Maui Humane Society by ASD here.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
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