Hawaiian Humane Society
Newsletter People for animals. Animals for people.
June – August 2016
Helping Oahu’s pets and people through difficult transitions When Hawaiian Humane Society’s President & CEO Pamela Burns noticed an older gentleman with a white beard near the entrance, she was immediately drawn to him. “How may I help you?” she asked. The homeless war veteran named David confided that he was recently discharged from Tripler Army Medical Center and he was there to pick up his dog, Lady Gaga. Hawaiian Humane Society’s Emergency Foster Care program had provided
temporary care for his companion during his unexpected hospital stay. David was reunited with Lady Gaga that morning and both were ecstatic to be reunited.
Months passed and Burns was in her office reviewing requests for Max’s Special Fund, a fund Hawaiian that covers the cost Humane Society’s of specialty medical President & CEO services for dogs Pamela Burns and Lady that are admitted Gaga. to the shelter. A dog named Lady Gaga was in need of surgery due to a broken hip. Burns paused and thought to herself, could this be the same dog whose owner she had met many months ago? Upon further investigation, the story unfolded. This was indeed the same dog. It was a rainy night in Moiliili around 8 pm in September 2015
when David attempted to cross the street by wheelchair with Lady Gaga in his lap. As they rolled out on to the rain-soaked street, a driver emerged from a parking lot and hit the two. The inseparable pair parted ways once again. Lady Gaga was brought to the Hawaiian Humane Society and David was taken to Queen’s Medical Center. Thanks to Max’s Fund, Lady Gaga received the surgery she needed to fix a broken hip. Burns contacted Queen’s hospital to find the injured owner to let him know that Lady Gaga was in good hands. Due to the accident, David was now a quadriplegic and could no longer breathe without a ventilator. Knowing how closely bonded these two were, Burns sought special permission from the hospital staff to bring Lady Gaga to visit David. Burns would bring Lady Gaga close to David’s face so he could see and feel her – his face was now the only area on his body where he could feel anything. During one of the continued on page 3