Maui Humane Society staff and several community landlords told the Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee on Nov. 5 that a shortage of pet‑friendly affordable housing is increasing canine and feline surrenders and harming household stability.

"With 20 percent of incoming pet surrenders being attributed to the inability to find or afford pet friendly housing," Nikki Russell, interim CEO of the Maui Humane Society, testified, urging the committee and developers to work together to make new affordable units pet inclusive. Russell said Maui County rental listings allow pets at a far lower rate than the U.S. average and that increased pet‑inclusive housing could reduce shelter intake and keep families and animals together.

Danai (Dania) Olani Trevinsky, lead dog pathways coordinator at the Maui Humane Society, described stress and behavioral decline in shelter dogs when populations increase and said shelters are not a long‑term solution: "Any animal who struggles in this environment is at risk for euthanasia," she testified. Amanda Schafer, a development coordinator at Maui Humane Society and a local landlord who allows pets, said landlords can protect property through clear pet agreements and deposits and that pet owners often make responsible tenants.

Witnesses offered concrete ideas: written pet agreements, refundable pet deposits, tenant pet resumes, requirements that pets be spayed/neutered and vaccinated, and landlord education to reduce perceived risks. Multiple testifiers asked that the county include pet‑inclusive standards or incentives in new workforce and affordable housing projects so households are not forced to choose between a home and a companion animal.

The committee accepted these public comments into the record; no formal policy changes were adopted at the Nov. 5 meeting. Committee staff will include written testimony in the project record for committee members and departments to review as part of the broader discussion of housing policy.