OVER 20 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered at Saipan’s Animal Shelter in As Perdido on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
It was the first day of the three-day spay and neuter clinic facilitated by Boonie Flight Project Guam, Guam Animals in Need, and the Saipan Mayor’s Office’s Dog Control Program.
Boonie Flight Project Founding Partner Lauren Cabrera and GAIN Director Alison Hadley said the turnout was good for the first day.
Since 2009, Hadley has been visiting the island to conduct outreach programs for pets.
“It’s one of my passions to help the community take care of the well-being of their pets. The resources are limited here compared to Guam and it is only appropriate that we help each other,” she said in an interview.
This year, Hadley brought GAIN volunteer veterinarians Brenda Smith and Whitney Collins who performed the surgeries on dogs and cats.
Hadley plans to continue providing spay and neuter clinic outreach programs in the future since she sees the need.
She said GAIN also provided health services to pets after Super Typhoon Yutu and that’s when she realized that Saipan needed healthcare assistance for pets.
She is encouraging community members to take advantage of the free service that aims to help control the population of dogs and cats on island.
Saipan Mayor Ramon B. Camacho, for his part, reminded community members to do what is best for their pets.
“Be responsible owners. We at the Saipan mayor’s office will do everything we can to solve the stray dog situation, but the community members must also do their part,” he told Variety.
Cabrera and Hadley both thanked Camacho for accommodating their team.
“We would like to thank Mayor RB Camacho for being so welcoming to our team, using his beautiful dog control shelter and clinic space, and allowing his especially trained dog control staff to assist us with the clinic” Cabrera said.
Derek Deleon Guerrero, Calvin Borja and Simion Ngpail, who are also employees of the Dog Control Program, assisted the veterinarians at the spay and neuter clinic.
Deleon Guerrero said he hopes that community members will think of the responsibilities involved before having a pet.
“There are a lot of dogs out there without homes,” he said. “Make sure that you tie up your dogs or have them spayed or neutered so they don’t add to the stray dog problem.”
Dog Control Program Manager Martin Pangelinan is grateful for the service provided by Boonie Flight Project Guam and GAIN.
“On behalf of the mayor’s Dog Control Program, we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to our visiting veterinarian Dr. Smith, the GAIN family, volunteer veterinarian Dr. Whitney Collins, the Boonie Flight Project and Boonie Babies Rescue for making this event possible, for caring for our animals and for helping control the animal population,” he said.
He said the only way to solve the island’s stray dogs is through cooperation.
“We would like to ask community members to abide by the rules and regulations of the Dog Control Program, such as keeping all pets confined within the property. They must be registered and leashed while in public places. Also, pet owners should take advantage of the spay and neuter clinics that are being offered in our community so that we can control the animal population. Let’s work together to keep our community safe,” he added.
From left, Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program Manager Martin Pangelinan, volunteer Richard Castro, DCP employees Calvin Borja, Simion Nepayo and Derek Deleon Guerrero, Boonie Flight Project Founding Partner Lauren Cabrera, Guam Animals in Need Director Alison Hadley, GAIN volunteer Emily Hurtt, volunteer Kiana Propst and DCP employee Leemark Deleon Guerrero.
