East Maui Animal Refuge

Animal Tales & Sponsorship

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This young fawn, Tessy, was found by some very caring employees of Maui's Pukalani Golf Course and brought to the Refuge quickly. We'll never know what happened, but it appears he stumbled and fell down a hill where perhaps his mother couldn't save him. Aside from a few scratches he seems uninjured, however he's not using his legs. It remains to be seen if he will be able to walk again, but seems perky and responsive. He is extremely sweet, being bottle fed, obviously pampered and well loved, and has lots of new animal pals!

	Our big beautiful buck, Axel, came to us from a local vet. He was hit by a car when much smaller, but was still quite a handful to relocate from the vet to the Refuge. He only had one little broken antler at the time, and although we had him neutered, you can see he wears his crown proudly! He's still very wild, but is calming down, taking his cue from the other deer, and will almost eat from a familiar hand.
	This is Gustav. He has a very frightening tale to tell. Before coming to EMAR, Gustav was the sole companion animal to a local homeless gentleman. One night several young men out looking for trouble decided it would be great fun to throw Gustav into a nearby cooking fire. Evidently he was able to scramble out quickly, but not before his feet and face were severely burnt. Thankfully his person was helping out one of the feral cat organizations and through them got Gustav to the vet immediately. Unselfishly making what must have been a difficult decision, his person realized Gustav needed a safer situation, so released him to EMAR. He spent weeks at Dr. Moyer's office being nursed intensively. When he arrived here his fur was still short and singed feeling and he had to have shredded newspaper instead of litter so as not to irritate his tender paws. His face still bears the signs of the fire, but he's a sleek, tough footed, fine fellow now and one of our most affectionate cats. Gustav has a staff of dedicated volunteers to see to his every need and a young tabby BFF that is always by his side. Gustav will know nothing but love and respect for the rest of his life.
	Hit by a car and needing her front leg amputated, Cherish was surprisingly sweet and affectionate. She may have been someone's tame deer. Although illegal to own without a a license from State and Federal Depts. of Fish & Wildlife, many people raise wild creatures not realizing what a huge responsibility it is. If raised by hand, these gentle creatures develop no natural instincts to avoid danger or defend themselves from predators. EMAR is completely licensed and uniquely aware of this responsibility and has built the Refuge specifically to keep our tamed wildlife safe. Cherish received intensive medical care, enjoyed best of the treats, and lots of special attention. She even had her own personal volunteer everyday seeing to her recovery. In spite of the effort, she succumbed to an infection and died suddenly one night. Her volunteer was inconsolable. This is one of the difficult realities of an animal refuge like EMAR. We often get animals so badly hurt they are beyond our help, but we do everything possible to keep them warm, dry, comfortable and well loved as long as they exist in our world.
	Bunny was found missing one leg, by visitors while camping in Hana. She seemed fine and they kept her for 2 months. Evidently, she had been developing an abscess that gradually got bad enough to burst, and that's when they brought her to EMAR. She was bandaged and put on antibiotics. Her bandage is off now and we are using a liquid skin application to help her heal. She hops around quite efficiently. She loves life and everyone she meets. She is obviously one strong and determined kitten to survive both the loss of a leg, then the infection, and yet remain just the cutest, most playful, gentle creature. Just look at that face! We are all so thankful for her and the lessons that she teaches us about life!
	Schmoozie showed up in a woman's yard, badly injured & very sick, but so desperate for human contact that he ripped through her screen door just to get close to her. He didn't want food, just human touch. She took him to the vet to have him treated for his conditions and wounds. After much money and time, she brought him to us as she had her hands full and could not give him the care he needed.. We continued her vet's treatment program and seeing no improvement, we took him to see Dr. Moyer. He found he had a split upper pallet and the food was getting into his sinuses and preventing recovery. Dr. Moyer stitched it beautifully and the treatment became successful. He is now a healthy old boy and has found his place (and shelf) in our feline population.
	My name is "No Wings at All", at least in my vocabulary. I have lots of fun at the Zoo, even though I will never fly again. After all, I can waddle around. I love the big pond that Sylvan fills every day for all of us waterfowl for swimming. Then it doesn't matter that I don't have wings anymore.
	My name is Baby and I am blind. When I came to EMAR Sylvan bottle-fed me, but also loved me so very much that he named me Baby.
	The first few days of my life were very hard. Someone put me in a small box and left me in front of a store in the hot Wailuku Sun. I was very lucky to be bottle fed with my Siamese friends. I want to thank you for your support, without it, many of us would not be alive today.
	My name is Kuuipo, which means Sweetheart in Hawaiian. I am a pueo, endangered Hawaiian owl. I was hit by a truck, so my legs don't work. I love people to hold me, talk to me, and I am very loving back. I am especially thankful to Lynn, a wonderful volunteer here, for her undying love and care for me.
	Hello There! We are two Siamese kittens that were found in a drainage pipe in Wailuku when we were only a few days old. A very nice person rescued us and brought us to EMAR to be cared for. We know our mom would be happy with the care and love we have received growing up here without her. We were bottle fed for six weeks, given much needed medication and had some friends our age to play with.
	Dutchess was found on the side of the road on Molokai, after being hit by a car. A kind supporter paid for her to have a surgical rod placed in her back, and a company donated a wheelchair so that she is able to run around again and have fun. One of the kind volunteers at the Boo Boo Zoo adopted her as well as another dog that was in a wheelchair. They now live a very fun filled life thanks to the kindness they received at EMAR.
	Louise was just a baby when she came running out of the woods alone up to a man at the heliport. She wouldn't have survived on her own.
	This kitten was brought to EMAR when it was just a few days old, nurtured and cared for, spayed and then adopted out to a loving home.
	The deer's name is "Yes Deer." She came to EMAR as a result of capture myopathy, where an animal is paralyzed as a result of extreme stress. She was captured and tied to a tree while hunters gutted her mother in front of her. She now lives with Sylvan & Suzie in their house, a very safe place for a deer in her condition. There are gentle kittens that give her love like this one, Flojo, who was brought when she was orphaned at a few days old.
	Doogie, a 90% blind young miniature horse, doesn’t know that he’s not a dog. Doogie cavorts and plays with Bo, a gentle and loving dog who is his constant companion. When loud and frantic squeals and protests erupt from the pig pen next to the old aviary, you know that Doogie is prodding and pushing a very fat pot-bellied pig. He eagerly accepts carrots and pieces of apple from your hand.
	Boots is a friendly, action-loving dog who was hit by a car when very young. His owners didn’t want to spend the money to fix his hip. The Zoo vet fixed Boots, then asked Sylvan if he would give Boots a foster home while he recuperated. Boots now lives at the Zoo permanently.
	Sunshine is a breast-feather-picking cockatoo with a large and unusual vocabulary. He became very upset when several large dogs invaded the Zoo, chasing and killing animals in the yard. (This is now impossible because of increased security measures.) Sunshine hangs around anyone who visits or volunteers at the Zoo, looking for attention and an almond.
	Scarlet is a beautiful scarlet macaw with an extensive vocabulary. She is very loud, saying “Hello” repeatedly so that you will give her almonds. She is physically flawless, but her owners had to bring her to the Zoo because she was too loud for their environment.
	We are Pueos, a native Hawaiian owl that is endangered everywhere but on Maui. Maui has been an incredible success story for our species due to the unbelievable hard work and care that we recieve. We were both hit by cars and our wings were so severely shattered that reconstructive surgery was not an option and partial amputation was necessary. Even though we will never be able to fly again, we will live happy lives in the aviary being entertained by the hundreds of other birds chaotically flying around.

I am an indigenous Wedge-tailed Shearwater. I was only a few days old in the picture to the left. A tour boat operator found me floating off the shores of Molokini. When they brought me to EMAR I was a beneficiary of the amazing work that is being done to help my species and many others. Sylvan and Suzie mixed up a very healthy formula that helped me grow strong. They regularly exercised my wings with the hope that one day I would be released into my natural habitat. When they thought I was strong enough they took me back to Molokini but I just was not ready yet. A few weeks later they took me to Kanaha beach. As you can see here in this picture I successfully flew off, looking back only to say "thank you."

Athena is a blind barn owl who lives in the old aviary. She used to belong to a Native American Shaman who lived in Makawao. She spends her days and nights seated on her favorite perch, usually sleeping or waiting for her nightly mice feedings. She welcomes pets, always ready for a kind touch.

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East Maui Animal Refuge - 25 Maluaina Place - Haiku, Hawaii 96708 - (808)-572-8308