A group of South Whidbey animal lovers spent this past week collecting kennels to send to Hawaiian residents who are in need of a safe way to transport their pets after being displaced by the devastating wildfires on Maui.

Clinton resident Sue Forbes, who is leading the collection effort, was heartbroken to hear about the fires. A decade ago, while visiting the island, she rescued a dog from the side of Hana Highway – also known as the Road to Hana – and forged a special connection with Becca Johnston, the Maui resident who ended up adopting him.

Since then, Forbes’ friend moved to Bainbridge Island. Johnston’s Maui home, which was two blocks from Front Street in Lahaina, did not survive the fires. In the aftermath of the disaster, a need for animal crates has emerged, which Forbes and Johnston are doing their best to fulfill on their respective Pacific Northwest islands.

On Whidbey, Forbes is working with Keely McCool, owner of Salty Paws Pet Services, and Debbie Wilkie, owner of Critters and Co. Pet Center and Rescue in Clinton, to collect the crates, which number 52 as of Thursday afternoon. People can still drop the kennels off at Critters and Co., which is located in Ken’s Korner at 11042 Highway 525, Suite 118.

“This is the least we can do,” Wilkie said. “People always have those old crates sitting around, and now we can make use of them.”

Forbes herself has been driving up to Coupeville and Oak Harbor to pick up crates from people who have reached out to her.

“It’s a labor of love, and it’s a tiny little speck of sand on that huge beach of need,” she said.

She added that it has been wonderful to see the messages Whidbey people have written on the kennels to the people of Maui. Some still have the names of past pets.

Forbes plans to send the crates to Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation, the nonprofit organization on Maui that helped her find a home for the dog she rescued. Finding a way to transport the bevy of kennels, however, has become a challenge.

Though Johnston found a private charter jet company that is willing to fly the crates out, the company is understandably prioritizing the transportation of vital medical supplies, such as insulin, to the residents of Maui.

The kennels could also be sent by barge, but that would take weeks, and Forbes said the crates are needed now. In some cases, residents seeking shelter are unable to bring their pets with them unless they are safely contained.

“We’re hoping someone kind of graces us with a decent shipping option so they can get there in a timely manner,” Forbes said.

She is currently working with some of the airlines to see if purchasing a ticket to Maui would allow for crates to be sent as luggage.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said. “There will be a way.”

Both Forbes and Wilkie have been amazed to see the Whidbey community leap into action to help Maui residents, within a span of about four days.

“We call it an island to island connection, reaching out from our island to yours,” Forbes said.

Photo provided Whidbey residents looking for a way to help the displaced people of Maui can drop off crates at Critters and Co. Pet Center and Rescue in Clinton.

Photo provided Kennels of all sizes and colors have been dropped off this week at Critters and Co. Pet Center and Rescue in Clinton.

Photo provided Community members have written heartfelt messages on the donated kennels.