Dr Kozuma clinic Oct 2011

9 Cats were Spay/Neutered and 5 Students from Keaau High School came to observe.

Mahalo to Dr Kim and the UH Team for encouraging young people to become a part of improving the welfare of the animals for future generations.

The Hawaii Island Pre-Vet club (HIPVC) from UHH with guidance and support from Hui Pono Holohlona will be holding its Second spay /neuter clinic for the University’s feral cat colonies on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Kurtistown Assembly of God, thanks to the assistance Pastor Damien.

The University feral cat population has been actively managed using the Trap - Neuter - Release - Manage model which stabilizes feral cat populations without using euthanasia. Animals that are able to be socialized via our foster program are adopted out to suitable families. The goal is to have no new litters and to decrease the population over time via natural attrition. This has been proven to be the most sustainable method to manage feral cat colonies across the nation.
Pre-veterinary students and their advisor, Dr. Kim Kozuma, have hands-on experience managing feral cat colonies, trapping, fostering, spaying/neutering, and treating sick animals. The HIPVC holds fundraisers to help cover the costs of managing the colonies.
Members of the club also gain large animal experience by shadowing veterinarians, participating in brandings, regulatory inspections and testing, and by hosting guest speakers. Hands-on veterinary experience is required for entry into several Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. The club provides various experiences not usually obtained by working at the traditional small-animal practice. Hosting spay / neuter clinics is only one way the club gives back to the community. Members also hold dog washes with an Ask-A-Vet corner, perform physical exams under veterinary supervision, and assist the Panaewa Zoo and UHH farm by monitoring fecal egg counts. Some members have also attended marine mammal rescue training courses in order to become a certified rescue volunteer. Since 1989, the University of Hawaii at Hilo has had over 20 students accepted into colleges of Veterinary Medicine in the United States and abroad. Several have returned to Hawaii and Hilo to practice.

This an educational opportunity for young people (over 10 years old with parent's signed permission) interested in an animal health career to observe a veterinarian and ask questions. Please contact Hui Pono Holohlona at 968-8279 or webmistress@hphhawaii.org if you would like to attend.

HPH, appreciates all caregivers/guardians/supporters of Trap-Neuter-Return-*Manage of cat colonies, and wishes everyone to get on board towards a kinder and genteel society through this method of life over death. The catch to kill mentality of this community is bruital, and research shows as ineffective in decreasing animal overpopulation. All scientific documentation proves what we already knew years ago, that Spay/neutering is the only humane and most effective method of decreasing animal (dog/cat) overpopulation. Don't forget at your local shelter (Keaau) nearly 700 health animals are being euthanized each month. Combined with Kona & Waima shelters, that total is 1,000+ animals euthanized every month on our island. It is a CRISIS ! If we are able to offer more truly affordable spay/neuter clinics for the public, there would eventually be no healthy animals to euthanize. Again many Mahalo's to compassionate Veterinarians like Doctor Kozuma, and all the other Doctor Angels that give up their time and expertise by offering their services for truly low cost spay/neuter clinics.