Waikoloa Donkey Community Meeting on THURSDAY @ 6:30!

Waikoloa Nightingale Donkey Community Meeting!

Thursday February 17

6:30 PM

WVA Community Room

This coming Thursday, a community meeting to update the community and provide another opportunity to express concerns or ask questions is planned. A great time to compare notes and to help the team locate where there are donkey poking about.
Dr. Brady Bergin, Waimea veterinarian, and  Keith Dane, Director Equine Protection, Humane Society of the United States, will brief the community on recent progress managing and re-homing the feral Waikoloa donkeys in the Waikoloa Village Association Community Room, 68-1792 Melia St.
All welcome. Beginning at 6:30 PM, the meeting will be 1 hour, with plenty of time access after for individual discussions with the experts. The meeting is hosted by Mālama Waikoloa Nightingales. For more information, call 937-2309.

HB 1334 - Deferred!

Iʻm happy to report that the House Water, Land and Ocean (WLO) Committee "deferred" action on “HB 1334, Relating to Feral Animals,” that would have let a State agency the right to control any mammal in sweeping and ill-advised ways, including spreading feral animals far and wide, even requiring the County to pay for spreading them, with no funding.

There was lots of public testimony, including ours, and Friends of Malama Waikoloa Nightingales. 

Deferred means it is "probably" dead for this 2011 Legislative Session, but I will keep an eye on it to make sure it doesnʻt sneak back.  The Hawaii Legislature www.capitol.hawaii.gov website is useful for finding and tracking bills.

update... It is pau. There may be other developments, but not such sweeping ones. And not a Bill this session.

HOT Action Update: Waikoloa Nightingale Donkeys Need Your Help NOW

House Bill 1334, Relating to Feral Animals - Oppose

“HB 1334, Relating to Feral Animals,” is a very concerning piece of legislation that would give State agencies the right to control any mammal deemed feral. The alternatives given to the State are sweeping and unnecessary.The Bill is linked above and elsewhere in this post.

... update... issue currently 'dead'. Something may still come about, but not this.

Donkeys in the News!

Yes, the Medical Associates of the Humane Society of the U.S. has delayed sending its team of veterinarians over because we couldn't guarantee having a minimum of 100 ready for them. But it's still on for when we can.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bergin and our rancher have caught 35 and have them in process for the more than 50 pre-approved adopters who are awaiting them! So, it goes on, and we will get there!

Catherine Cruz of KITV is doing a super job in following this story! http://www.kitv.com/news/26739172/detail.html

Planning Begins for Donkey Sanctuary

While we definitely still have donkeys available for adoption, we also are beginning work in earnest for some sort of permanent donkey playground, sanctuary, fenced place that is near by where we can maintain a herd of some size, using humane birth control methods. How big it is and where it is determines the number that can be protected from their own over-population in the future. Fencing, water, access, food, ... a long list of needs to manage a successful program. The United States Humane Society once again is stepping forward to give us guidance and assistance. This will be a local effort, but their advice and ideas are invaluable. Three experts from the USHS will be here in Waikoloa soon to meet with volunteers and community leaders to help us plan a way forward.   We are hoping for good participation from a variety of folks. I'll post after the meeting with who participated in the discussion and with some highlights.

Horse Journal Publishes Waikoloa Nightingale Plight

The Hawaii Horse Journal, Malama Lio, published a full page article on the status of re-homing the donkeys around Waikoloa. The Journal can be downloaded, the article is on page 14, complete with two cute pix. The magazine is read by horse enthusiasts from all the Islands and elsewhere, too!   Many thanks to this absorbing publication.

You'll need to download the entire .pdf file to read the article, this is best done from their website malama-lio.com.

Team of HSUS Vets Coming to Waikoloa: Needed–Corral and Fenced Pasture

Do you have some fenced land near Waikoloa?

The Medical Associates of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is bringing in three volunteer veterinarians and two vetinary assistants to conduct a clinic neuter captured male donkeys. They will assist Dr. Brady Bergin for 5 days in February. Dr. Bergin with assistants, paniolos and ranchers plan to  capture 100-120 donkeys and have them in a holding area with a cattle corral in time for their visit. After the clinic, the donkeys will be available for adoption.

It is going to be a challenge to capture them because the rain (which is good news) allowed the donkeys to scatter out with more plentiful food and water.

The donkeys who are captured need food and water.  Money can be donated to the USHS to buy feed and other resources used to care for the donkeys. Volunteers are providing veterinary,  logistical and donkey-handling. Please donate money to the USHS Waikoloa donkey program, at www.humanesociety.org/hawaiidonkeys.

Also, see the "How to Help Page".