KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island Humane Society employee Whitney Sickels and her father, John, just completed a cross-country drive from Ohio to California. But this was no ordinary road trip.
The father and daughter were driving the Humane Society’s new spay and neuter mobile clinic from Columbus to Long Beach, where it was put on a container ship headed for Hilo, with an expected July 13 arrival.
La Boit Specialty Vehicles customized the $200,000, 26-foot van to specifications and needs — but the price tag to transport the vehicle to Hawaii Island was $20,000. So Sickels decided to hop a plane and join her father on the mainland, driving the vehicle 2,400 miles to the West Coast to significantly lower the cost.
The Spay &Neuter Waggin’ emblazoned with the HIHS logo and photos of adopted pets caused quite a stir during the journey.
“We got lots of smiles and waves along the way,” said Whitney Sickels, noting people were surprised when they learned the vehicle’s final destination.
A Facebook fundraising page documented their adventure, soliciting donations en route. Sickels said community support exceeded expectations, raising $3,150 to support the Humane Society.
Sickels secured a $100,000 matching grant from the Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation. The community responded by raising the matching funds to purchase the $200,000 vehicle.
She also was able to obtain an additional $100,000 from the Dave and Cheryl Buffield Foundation to stock the van with supplies.
“With that money, we will be able to start clinics immediately on the island,” Sickels said.
Part-time veterinarian Kelly Korth currently performs spay and neuter clinics at the Keaau and Kailua-Kona shelters, along with a once-a-month-clinic in Ocean View. The mobile clinic will offer pet owners in more remote areas access to free spay and neuter services once a week, starting in North Kohala.
The van runs off a generator, so the only thing they will need is a place to park.
“We are so excited about its arrival!!!” HIHS Executive Director Donna Whitaker said in an email.
“We are ordering supplies and working on a tentative schedule for July, August and September that will take us to spots around the whole island and we plan to offer a day per week at our Animal Community Center,” Whitaker said.
HIHS will be accepting appointments online, where a calendar of locations will be posted. In addition to the free same-day spay/neuter service, microchipping will be available for $10.
When the van is not being used for sterilization procedures, it will act as a traveling adoption center and educational tool.
Sickels said HIHS hopes to take the vehicle to schools, showing keiki the setup and explaining the importance of the spay/neuter program.
“The more spay and neutering we can do in the community, the better it is for the community,” Sickels said. “We reduce euthanasia and that’s a win, win, win for everyone — the community, pets and HIHS.”
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.