HA'IKU, Maui — The East Maui Animal Refuge is providing a home to a new class of animal outcasts: felines with AIDS and leukemia.

The 2-acre refuge, known as the "Boo Boo Zoo," already provides a sanctuary to hundreds of injured, orphaned and sick animals and is a state- and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility.

The no-kill shelter tries not to duplicate services provided by the Maui Humane Society and other animal welfare groups, so its inhabitants include an unusual mix of domestic and wild critters, many of which came to the refuge under heart-wrenching circumstances. They include an axis deer whose spine was broken in a collision with a car and a cat critically burned when it was thrown into a campfire.

Aimee Anderson, director of animal control for the Maui Humane Society, said there are precious few groups in the state capable of caring for wild and exotic animals that conventional shelters are unable to accommodate.

"The East Maui Animal Refuge is a definite support to us because they are able and willing to handle species of birds and wild animals we are not experienced with and don't have the facilities for," she said.

Sixteen cats are the first occupants of the newly opened AIDS and leukemia quarantine building, constructed at a cost of $250,000. The building, which has other uses, gives the ailing felines "a place to live out their lives," said Sylvan Schwab, 60, who runs the all-volunteer, nonprofit operation with his wife, Suzie.

The couple started the refuge 30 years ago as occupational therapy for Suzie Schwab, who was suffering from cancer but is now free of the disease.

"She's clear of cancer, but the therapy continues," her husband said.

The Schwabs live on the property, sharing their own small house with animals that need special care, including two deer and a goat, as well as several cats and birds.

Outside, roaming freely on the enclosed grounds, are seven other deer, a blind miniature horse, more goats, sheep and pigs, peacocks, cockatoos, 78 cats and a dog. Indoor and outdoor aviaries hold a menagerie of at least 300 common and exotic birds, including pigeons, mynahs, cattle herons, parrots, black-crowned night herons, chickens and 10 pueo, or Hawaiian owls.

Some of the owls have had their wings amputated due to injury and are not able to return to the wild; others are recuperating and will be set free when ready.

Most of the creatures wouldn't have survived if it weren't for the East Maui Animal Refuge, but even some animal lovers may wonder "why bother?" when confronted with the more severe cases of injury or illness.

"The people who say 'why bother,' then don't bother. I bother because I care, that's why," said Sylvan Schwab, squeezing a syringe of a porridgelike mixture into the gaping mouths of three mynah hatchlings snug in a nest.

Moving on to the next cage, he dangled a frozen white mouse in front of a blind barn owl, which eagerly grabbed the morsel in its beak.

"I've been doing it for 30 years, and I'll keep doing it until they put me in the grave," Sylvan Schwab said.

Fifteen volunteers help the Schwabs run the refuge, which has an annual budget of approximately $220,000. The money all comes from private donations, mostly by word of mouth but also from in-kind contributions from feed stores, veterinarians and others.

Schwab said he doesn't have time to organize fundraising events, so when the money runs low, he makes a round of calls to regular supporters.

The refuge also benefits from the Schwabs' long-standing reputation in the community and the good will created by the work they do. For example, organizers of the St. John's Kula Festival have decided to donate some of the proceeds from their Sept. 22 event to the refuge.

The festival, which includes a rummage sale, crafts, plant sale, keiki activities, and tea house, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the church grounds at 8992 Kula Highway.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.