By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

DEPARTMENT of Land and Natural Resources Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz has “put to sleep” 24 stray dogs on Tinian, bringing the number of euthanized canines to 60 under the Tinian mayor’s office’s dog control program which generated $1,600 in revenue for the municipality.
The mayor’s office is also working to upgrade the animal shelter on Tinian, according to Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas.
He said a contract for the improvement of the kennel will be bidded out.
His office is also erecting a new perimeter fence around the kennel following a report that an intruder “rescued” one of the sheltered dogs.
Funds for the projects will come from the pet license fees.
Dela Cruz, the CNMI’s only veterinarian, went to Tinian to euthanize the stray dogs.
San Nicolas said some of the dogs were caught in San Jose and some of them were turned over by residents themselves.
Like Saipan, Tinian has seen an ever increasing number of stray animals.
Tinian, however, is one step ahead in addressing the problem since a similar shelter has yet to be constructed on Saipan.
San Nicolas said the Tinian dog control program has reduced the number of stray dogs in San Jose.
A similar program in Saipan, created in 1995, remains unimplemented.
San Nicolas said many of the dogs caught were feral and had to be euthanized immediately due to their extremely dangerous temperament.
After a second or two, dogs injected with sodium pentobarbital become unconscious and die within a minute or so without struggle or pain.
Under its dog control program, the Tinian municipal government has also licensed 103 pets.
Stray dogs caught can be bailed out for $100.
Sa Nicolas said those who own unregistered dogs and allow their pets to run free will be cited.