Maui Humane Society asks council to restore and increase animal-sheltering and spay/neuter funding

Leaders of Maui Humane Society and affiliated staff asked the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee to increase county funding for animal sheltering, spay/neuter services and humane enforcement, citing increased demand after the 2023 wildfires and the closure of another island shelter operator.

Lisa Lebrecht, identified as CEO of Maui Humane Society, told the committee county support covers about 60% of the society’s animal sheltering program and that the mayor’s proposed FY26 budget dropped a previously earmarked $150,000 line that had supported services provided by the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation before it closed. Lebrecht said shelter length‑of‑stay has risen roughly 50% since the fires because of housing shortages, and she requested that the council approve the full amount Maui Humane Society requested for animal sheltering and restore the $150,000 previously earmarked for HEARF.

Dr. Lori Gaines, medical director and veterinarian at Maui Humane Society, asked the council to increase the county’s per‑surgery spay/neuter subsidy. She said the county contributes $66 per surgery but the true average cost at MHS is over $85; her testimony said the society performed roughly 7,550 spay/neuter surgeries last year and that county funding covers about 2,500 of those. Gaines asked for an additional $48,000 to bring county funding for spay/neuter to $213,000 in order to maintain the prior pace of 2,500 county-supported surgeries.

Nikki Russell, chief of operations, presented program and operational statistics: in FY24 MHS officers responded to 3,804 calls for service, sheltered 951 stray animals and conducted 512 cruelty investigations; the humane enforcement program logged 91,399 miles. Russell asked the council for an additional $94,000 to account for inflationary pressures and $150,000 to fund a second humane enforcement officer and a vehicle, for a combined request that would raise county funding from the mayor’s flat $1,061,000 to $1,305,000.

Mwani Maki (testimony transcribed as Mwani Maki/Makoibi), Humane Enforcement Resource Officer, described Molokai needs: she requested $60,000 for an additional humane enforcement officer on Molokai, monthly spay/neuter clinic funding (the testimony requested $42,000 for monthly clinics), and about $5,000 annually to assist with animal transport (Kamaka Air flight fees were cited at $177 per dog per kennel). Maki said Molokai currently lacks a full‑time veterinarian and that the Molokai position is currently handled as a satellite role.

Volunteer testimony emphasized the scale of volunteer time and the gap between county funding and operating costs. Carrie Mahon (volunteer) said MHS is required by county contract and by Title 6 and the Hawaii Revised Statutes to provide certain animal control and medical services; she described a county contribution of $165,000 to spay/neuter in the current budget and urged the council to increase that amount to reflect rising costs and volunteer contributions.

Quotes: "The remaining 40% is funded by Maui Humane Society using donor contributions, grant funding, investments, and other sources of revenue," Lisa Lebrecht said. "We respectfully request the $150,000 previously earmarked for HEARF so that we can continue the critical work of providing housing and care for the homeless animals in our community."

"If the county keeps our funding the same, this will result in 23% fewer surgeries," Dr. Lori Gaines said about flat per‑surgery support.

Ending: Committee members asked the society to submit written testimony and copies of detailed budgets (several MHS speakers said they had submitted materials); Democrats on the committee indicated they would review the requests as part of FY26 deliberations. No formal appropriations were adopted during the hearing.