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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Pamela Burns of Hawaiian Humane Society

Aired April 07, 2002 - 17:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Somewhere off the coast of Hawaii, a dog sits all by itself on a large abandoned oil tanker. Earlier this week, a cruise liner was summoned to the ship by a distress signal. The tanker's crew members say their vessel suffered a crippling fire more than two weeks before. When the cruise liner arrived, everyone on board the tanker was evacuated, except the ship's dog. But Hawaii's Humane Society is now speeding to the rescue. Pamela Burns is organizing the effort, and she joins us now on the phone from Hawaii. Hi there, Pamela.

PAMELA BURNS, PRESIDENT, HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: OK. So somehow the dog got left behind. The dog was owned by the captain, correct? Why was the dog left behind?

BURNS: Well, we're not quite clear on that, but apparently the captain tried to bring the dog with him onto the Norwegian Star, and he was not able do that.

WHITFIELD: All right. And then it was brought to your attention that this dog was out there by itself. How are the rescue efforts coming along? How close are you to getting to the dog?

BURNS: Right now, where we are is that we have a boat that's in the area. American Marine Corporation that does this kind of rescue and salvage, they are on the site right now, which is over 300 miles south of the South (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the big island. We also have, through American Marine Corporation, an airplane that has very high- tech imaging equipment on board with global satellite that is looking for the boat as we speak.

WHITFIELD: So what do we know about the condition of the dog -- and all I know it's a two-year old dog, right? What more do you know about the condition and what kind of a dog it is, and what might be on board to help that dog be able to survive all this time?

BURNS: Forgy (ph) is the dog's name. She's a two-year-old white, mixed breed dog that has actually been on board that boat for two years, with the captain. He acquired the dog when she was eight weeks old, and she has been with him ever since. When he left the dog behind on the boat, he did leave food and water for the dog. And so, we think since the dog has been living on that boat, she should be pretty comfortable on the boat, unfortunately without her owner there, though, now. WHTIFIELD: Wow. OK, so chances are pretty good that you just might be able to find this dog without any problems and bring it back to safety?

BURNS: Oh, that is so much our desire to rescue this dog. She does have an owner that I know is very distressed to be without her, and the community has been very supportive of us moving forward with this. It is just very important to do.

WHITFIELD: Oh, it certainly is. Thanks so much for joining us. And I understand it's costing you about $50,000 in which to make this happen. So, an awful lot of people have put an awful lot at stake to try to get to this dog, Forgy (ph).

BURNS: Yes, and it's not just the money but it's all the hours of expertise that has gone into the rescuing of this dog that is really important for people to remember, just the outpouring of sympathy from the community has been very impressive.

WHITFIELD: All right. Pamela Burns from the Humane Society, Hawaiian Humane Society, thanks very much for joining us on the phone, and best of luck to your rescue effort.

BURNS: Thank you.

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