HONOLULU (KHON2) — In Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Humane Society has observed a concerning trend in pet surrenders.
We spoke to Brandy Shimabukuro, the communications director for HHS. She reported that from July 2024 through May 2025, certain dog breeds and mixes have been surrendered more frequently than others.
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Understanding these patterns can help prospective pet owners make informed decisions and contribute to addressing the shelter capacity crisis.
Top breeds surrendered in Hawaiʻi
According to Shimabukuro, the five most commonly surrendered dog breeds or mixes at their Oʻahu campuses are:
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- Terriers make up 32.9% of surrendered breeds.
- Chihuahua short coat constitutes 10.9%.
- Pit bull terriers make up 8.7%.
- American pit bull terriers make up 6.5%.
- Small mixed breeds under 24 pounds constitute 4.7%.
Collectively, terrier-type breeds account for a significant portion of the intake at 50.1%. Additionally, various mixed breed categories by size represent 11.0% of dog surrenders.
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Terriers dominate surrenders
Shimabukuro explained, “We see a lot of, for lack of another term, terrier mixes.” This means one out of every three dogs dropped off at HHS shelters is a terrier or a mix of one…