12-06-2025
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HONOLULU (KHON2) — A walk in the park might not change the world, but at Hawaiian Humane Society, it could change a life. With three hands-on ways to connect with shelter pets via dog walking, short-term fostering through the Couch Crashers and Lap Crashers programs and field trips through ʻĪlio Explorers.
These programs allow volunteers to step into something deeper than just animal care. They're offering sanctuary, one leash, one lap, one couch at a time.
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'It really does make a lifesaving difference,' said Brandy Shimabukuro, communications director for the Hawaiian Humane Society.
And that's not an overstatement.
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For some people, dog walking might sound like a nice way to get in some steps. For the dogs, it's a lifeline.
'The shelter environment is inherently stressful,' Shimabukuro said. 'Dog walking is a critical tool for us to make sure the dogs in our care are getting the exercise and mental stimulation that they need, because the four walls of their kennel can oftentimes be really prohibitive.'
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Volunteers work closely with the shelter's behavior team and complete both online and in-person training before they ever take the leash.
'It's certainly fun, but it's also a critical role,' Shimabukuro said. 'There's a lot of benefits for dog walking.'
People who are 18 and older can apply to become dog walkers. It begins at Hawaiian Humane Society's website under the 'Get Involved' tab. According to Isa Cortina, manager of volunteer services for the Hawaiian Humane Society, the process is structured for success.
'We're preparing you for that first day on campus,' Cortina said. 'You apply. You go through our prerequisites. We'll provide an online training that helps prepare our volunteers and kind of give them an idea of how it's going to be like to work with shelter dogs.'
That training continues in person with staff and mentor volunteers. And for some, that first leash is only the beginning.
'We've actually had quite a few volunteers transition to employees here at Hawaiian Humane,' Cortina said.
You can click to learn Crashers is a short-term foster program for dogs who need a break. It's designed to let people welcome a dog into their home for a week or two without pressure to adopt. It's a way to provide a calming environment and gather helpful information for matching dogs with potential families.
'Our couch crushers and lap crushers programs are short term foster programs that are adoptions teams coordinate, and they facilitate,' Shimabukuro said. 'It gives them a short break from the shelter one to two weeks at a time, sometimes even longer if they're really thriving.'
Even if the dog doesn't stay forever, the benefits are real. 'It helps us to learn more about what they're like in a home environment,' Shimabukuro said.
All supplies are provided, including food, toys, leashes and harnesses.
'So, it is at no cost to our couch crushers and lap catchers,' Cortina said.
That week or two in a home, whether on the couch or in the yard, helps dogs learn new behaviors, relax and show sides of themselves that are harder to see in a kennel.
'There's zero guilt,' Shimabukuro said. 'If you decide this is not the right fit, you've still given that dog that little break from the shelter.'
You can click to learn more.
The Lap Crashers program is built on the same idea as Couch Crashers but is designed for adult cats. It gives cats a soft place to land and lets them decompress in a home for at least a week.
'A shelter can be an overstimulating environment for many cats, and we find that a short foster stay in a home can have a profound positive impact on their overall behavior and well-being,' said Shimabukuro.
All you need to do is visit one of the two campuses, select a cat older than 7 months, fill out a few forms and bring home your new temporary roommate, along with all the supplies.
And just like Couch Crashers, there's no pressure to adopt. But if you fall in love? The adoption process is easy.
You can click to learn more.
One day. One leash. One incredible adventure.
ʻĪlio Explorers is the Hawaiian Humane Society's field trip program for dogs. Visitors and residents can take a dog out for the day and give them a break from the shelter.
'We welcome kamaʻāina and visitors to participate in ʻĪlio Explorers by reserving an appointment,' indicated the HHS's official guidelines. 'You will meet our team at your specifically requested campus, spend about 45 minutes with us to learn about safety, program requirements and dog behavior.'
Then you're off. With a backpack of supplies and a hand-selected dog, volunteers can visit pre-approved parks, beaches and trails, always with the dog safely on a leash.
The dog must be returned by 4 p.m. the same day, and all supplies should be returned as well.
Dogs for this program are often selected based on their need for enrichment, or because they've been at the shelter a while and need a boost.
And, yes, if a volunteer falls in love, adoption is an option. You can click to learn more.
Both Shimabukuro and Cortina emphasized that fostering, even temporarily, has lasting effects.
'You've still given that dog or cat that little break from the shelter,' Shimabukuro said. 'And everybody fills out our report card. So, we learn more about that experience and later down the line we can find the right family for them.'
You can click to learn more about the Hawaiian Humane Society.
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Whether you're ready to walk, cuddle or explore, there's a shelter animal waiting to meet you. And in the process, you just might meet a new version of yourself.
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