Local musician and artist Audy Kimura cares deeply about animals. He's rescued many of them, even a rat.

Most of us don't know exactly why we love animals, but Kimura remembers how one dog changed his life and the way he views animals.

A VERY SPECIAL DOG

In 2003, a neighbor died in a fall, leaving his dog home by herself. Kimura would hear the dog crying at night and sometimes he'd see her walking the streets alone. He made friends with Lady, and whenever he heard her crying, he would take her for a walk.

One night, Lady got free from her chain and showed up at his door. Kimura took her back home. Minutes later, Lady escaped again and went looking for him. Kimura tried using a chest harness to secure her, but Lady was adamant; she wanted to be with her new friend. "Somehow she escaped and came to my door 16 times between midnight and 4 a.m. I finally set up a shelter on my front doorstep," Kimura said.

From that day on, Lady never left the Kimura house. She became Kimura's best friend and slept on the carpet next to his bed until she passed away in 2005. "I was heartbroken. It changed my life and the way I look at animals forever," remembered Kimura.

Everyone knew Kimura was grieving for Lady. The postman stopped by and the neighbors tried to console him. Even Zorro, the stray cat that Lady would chase, hung around more, sensing Kimura needed a friend.

"It taught me that animals can become your friends. You just have to give them and yourself a chance for it to happen," Kimura said. "My dear friend and veterinarian, Dr. Karin Fujitani, consoled me and said 'Animals know — they can tell which people really love them and will be good to them.' "

ANIMAL RESCUES

While driving, Kimura saw a dove with a bloody beak in the middle of traffic. He stopped the car and slowly approached the bird, extending his hand. Amazingly the bird walked toward his hand and sat down. Kimura got back into his car and drove to a friend's house for a box, then took the dove to the Animal Rescue Network. The dove made a full recovery and was released back into the wild.

Zorro the cat owes his life to Kimura. Kimura tried to befriend him several times, but Zorro seemed wary of humans. One day, Kimura saw a painful abscess on the cat's backside and finally caught Zorro and took him to veterinarian Dr. Sabina De Giacomo. The abscess required surgery and a two-week hospitalization. While at the clinic, Zorro refused to eat except when Kimura visited, so Kimura made a point to visit him every day. To help, Dr. De Giacomo reduced her fees considerably, knowing Zorro didn't belong to Kimura.

Zorro was returned to the neighborhood as soon as he recovered. The very next day, when Kimura opened his door, Zorro walked in and decided he was home. "What could I do? He stayed and sleeps on the bed now," Kimura said.

Mimi, Kimura's other cat, was abandoned as a kitten. "She was living alone. She found her way to my door and adopted me. She also simply walked in and never left."

Lastly, Ipu, an albino rat, is also a member of the Kimura family. Ipu was found abandoned in a cage without food or water. Now he has a good home and "loves to have his tummy scratched like a dog," Kimura said.

Besides his brood at home, Kimura cares for 12 feral "outside" cats. This soft-spoken man can't seem to stop helping those who need him the most.

WE CAN HELP, TOO

One of Kimura's main concerns is the urgent need to increase spaying and neutering efforts to prevent pet overpopulation.

He encourages everyone to get involved in all aspects of animal welfare by contributing financially and volunteering. "I have tremendous respect for the Animal Care Foundation (De Giacomo's organization), Hawaii Cat Foundation, Wild Bird Rehab Haven, Cat Friends, Joey's Feline Friends and the Oahu SPCA. I ask everyone to join me in supporting no-kill shelters and animal welfare organizations in these tough economic times."