Homeless Hawaiian dogs get a second chance in Bend

Say aloha to two new Central Oregon pups. These lucky puppies traveled a long way from Maui to Bend, in search of a loving home.

The twp pups were featured on our weekly pet pals segment earlier Friday night, and it’s safe to say our staff fell in love. The dogs arrived through the Wings of Aloha program, which helps save 400 homeless dogs every year by transferring them from the Hawaiian islands to the mainland.

The dogs flew into Portland Thursday night, courtesy of the Maui Humane Society’s Wings of Aloha program. These are the first pups to arrive in Central Oregon from Hawaii.

“It helps the shelters in Hawaii out, because they’re overrun right now, and here in Oregon we have great spay and neuter programs, so we’re not as overcrowded at the moment,”said Julianna Bourque-Valente of the Humane Society of Central Oregon.

The puppies flew via Alaska Airlines with passengers Dana and Eric, who the puppies are now named after.

“The Wings of Aloha program pays for all the costs associated with transferring the dogs,” said Humane Society of Maui CEO Jarleen Bryant.”There’s no paperwork, there’s no hassle — we meet them at the airport at the time of check in.”

So if you’re planning that tropical getaway, why not save a dog’s life while you are at? If you are planning to travel to Maui or Kauai, contact the Maui Humane Society at www.mauihumanesociety.org or the Kauai Humane Society at www.kauaihumane.org.

For more information on the Humane Society of Central Oregon, visit www.hsco.org or call 541-382-3527.