A terrified dog trapped in the devastation in Maui will be given a second chance at life thanks to the heroic work of a local volunteer, Daily Express US can reveal.
The black female dog, who has not been named yet, was rescued from Lahaina with scorched whiskers, blisters and severe burns to her paws and body.
She was picked up by a hero firefighter and was wearing a harness but had no microchip.
Veterinary staff stayed with her through the night while the shelter remained on standby for evacuation.
Already over capacity, the Maui Humane Society has issued an urgent plea for help as fires continue to rip through the Hawaiian island.
The animal shelter in Puunene, on the island of Maui, is currently looking for emergency foster carers, donations, and any other help they can get as hundreds of burnt and blistered dogs have been left on its doorstep.
Wildfires first began on Tuesday, and have since grown and spread in destruction, with at least 36 people dead.
Hundreds have had to flee their homes; structures have been destroyed and thousands have been left without power.
The shelter has now, in a desperate attempt to raise some cash, set up a fundraiser on Facebook.
It read: “Maui Humane Society is expecting an inundation of hundreds of animals who have been burned, lost during the evacuation process and those in need of critical care due to smoke inhalation.
“Maui Humane Society is asking for help as the island grapples with the unprecedented and catastrophic impact of the ongoing Maui fires.
“The fires have left thousands of both humans and animals displaced, causing immense distress and creating an urgent need for solidarity within the community.”
As of Thursday afternoon, 117 people had donated, amassing more than $6,400 – more than a third of the way to its goal of $20,000.
The animals at the Maui Humane Society are safe, according to the shelter, but it says that thousands have been displaced.
In a post on its Instagram story, it confirmed: “Animals are safe but stressed and we are overpopulated, which means for incoming injured or displaced animals, we have no space at the shelter.”
Many of the animals delivered to the shelter have burnt and blistered paws, have lost their owners in the stress of the evacuations or are in critical conditions due to smoke inhalation.
The shelter is looking for people to come into the shelter and temporarily foster an animal, for dry and wet pet food, pop-up kennels, treats and litter and for people to share its fundraiser on social media to spread the word.
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