I'm Heartsick.

Wow,

I'm so sorry to hear that.

My only suggestion besides trying to find a home yourself is possibly to contact some rescue groups. They're usually the ones that dogs fall back on when humane societies want to put them to sleep.

Put out ads everywhere, perhaps volunteer part of the costs to fix his health problems if a humane society takes him in...

If you'd like, I can offer you my services as a photographer to make his photo look really attractive. Take a picture with a camera that is better than a cell phone. Make sure it's not blurry and it's lit well. If you want to PM me, I can edit the photo for you to make it look more magazine-ish.

Best of luck.

I don't know what to tell you. You're not in a position even where you could contact nearby rescues in other states that might help. That's really the only thing I can think of, is contacting rescues. He looks so happy in that picture. Perhaps if you could arrange a series of very short term foster homes for him? Maybe if you could get some friends/family to agree to take him on a two-week basis, or an even shorter time period, then switch? That might buy some time for finding a rescue for him? 

This is a long shot (literally and figuratively), but this organization in Washington state, Pasado's Safe Haven, is an animal sanctuary that takes in the "lost causes". Perhaps they could help you with information about something similar in your area that could help? I e-mailed them during all the Katrina efforts and they were VERY responsive, so if you e-mail them and ask for any ideas, I would imagine you'll get a response. They may not have any ideas for you, but then again, maybe they would?
Here's their website, somewhere on there is their contact info. BTW, there are many sad stories on their pages, get a box of tissue before you read them!
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org

If the dog is heavily heartworm postive you CAN do the slow treatment with ivermecitin (as long as the dog isn't a herder) -- it takes a long time to get a clear occult but it CAN Be done.  A lot of rescues thru the US are doing it (and I"ve taken a dog thru it who was majorly heartworm positive -- they were in her lungs and she was literally not a candidate for the immiticide).
 
If you can find someone who will take her, I"m glad to help you figure out how to treat her for the heartworm. 
 
Most HOAs are unbending but if they will allow you to classify her as a 'foster' until you CAN place her (and you may be held accountable for your efforts TO try to place her).  She'd probably make a great dog for an elderly person ...
 
I realize on the islands you are very limited.  But knowing that there IS a way to deal with the heartworm may help you find a place for her.  Email me for more info you want.

Thank you for your replies.

I'm still in a blue funk thinking about this. The hardest part for me, and the part that makes me sick at my stomach is the thought that this poor guy has never had the love of an owner that cared about him. Has never known a gentle life... care, attention... and yet he's the sweetest thing. That's the part that really kills me.

Anyway...I called my vet/friend. We went over the different options. He is of the opinion that if he's as bad as I witnessed and as old as the HHS says... odds are he's quite advanced with his heartworms. They also mentioned tumors. He's concerned that I'd take him... and we'd find more than just the HW's. I spent a LONG time on the phone with him. Thank God for him. He's offering to help... but, I really don't have a place to put him. The HOA says I can keep him for 7 days, if I'm holding him for a friend. At the end of that I'm SOL. None of my friends have the resources to help.

I contacted some rescues, I've not had a reply as of yet, except for one. They are full and cannot help.

I'm sick. But, I guess I will have to consider this fight over. I will verify that their PTS is as good as it gets, if not I'll offer to pay to upgrade it to the kindest, gentlest of methods.

Thank you for your support.

I'm gonna go crawl in a hole now.

(BTW Saveastray, that pet sanctuary is absolutely amazing... i can't read the stories... they make me physically ill. But, I'm going to donate to the cause. I'll also be moving to Washington later in the year. I'll volunteer and adopt any new dogs from them. Perhaps foster when I get settled in. What WONDERFUL people! That warms my heart.

Callie thank you for your offer to help. I'd take you up on it in a minute if I could figure out the other, larger problems, like a place to keep him.

Amina, thank you for your kind suggestion I appreciate you offering to hellp with the images. You're right that's not a great photo, but all I had on me was my phone. I truly appreciate your kindness.)

If you do have to put him to sleep, you will have given him the best 7 days he has ever had. He found you for a reason. Just love him.

My heart is breaking for you and that sweet faced boy. I wish I had some miracle to offer, some sage suggestion...
 
At least because of you he will have known kindness and not meet a slow and agonizing end or a violent and painful one being struck by a car.  I'm so sorry.

How sad, and what a sweet sweet face. I can't imagine the pain of seeing that face and having to turn away from it. I suppose this is the agony that shelter workers go through quite often, and I don't know how they can bear it. As others have said, at least his memory of this world will be of kindness and something to wag his tail at.

Oh sweetie!  I'm sorry I haven't been around...I should have been here to hold your hand through this.  I know you're in a tough spot and I am glad your vet is helping you decide what to do.  He's a good guy and will give you good advice. 
I'll be back tomorrow (am at an internet cafe now, but they have promised me my connection will be repaired by tomorrow at the latest) and we'll have a good long talk.
 
Love ya.
Kate