SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang on Wednesday provided Saipan Cares for Animals a temporary shelter for dogs in a newly built facility in As Perdido.
This saved the lives of over 150 dogs that could have been euthanized if Saipan Cares failed to find a new shelter by April 1, the deadline imposed by the CNMI Zoning Board for the relocation of the shelter in As Gonno because it violates the zoning law. Saipan Cares has a new location in As Lito, but it is not ready yet.
The brand-new multifunction animal shelter in As Perdido, with a price tag of $603,000 is a project of the Mayor’s Office of Saipan, said Henry Hofschneider, special assistant to the mayor.
Funding sources included the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provided over $350,000; capital improvement project funds in the amount of over $110,000; and $140,000 appropriated by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
The facility was constructed by R3A General Services LLC. under contract with the Department of Public Works. Although the department was the contracting agency, the Saipan Mayor’s Office will be the owner of the animal shelter, which comprises a veterinary office, a clinic, a quarantine area, and a spacious kennel.
Apatang said his office has been working on the animal shelter project for a long time. Finally with the help from FEMA, the project has been completed and the shelter can now accommodate dogs from Saipan Cares for Animals. He thanked FEMA “for making this project a reality today.”
For his part, FEMA Region 9 Recovery Division Director Robert M. Pesapane said they are happy to work in partnership with the CNMI Public Assistance Office in making the animal shelter project a reality. He said it is very timely that it has come to fruition so that it can accommodate unsheltered animals.
“We are very pleased that we are able to work together over the years to make this project a reality,” he said. Recovery, he added, has been difficult especially with the Covid-19 pandemic and the natural disasters that the CNMI has faced.
He said FEMA is very thankful for the partnership with the CNMI government and the island community.
Also on Wednesday, Apatang handed Saipan Cares Director Elizabeth Pliscou a check for $10,000 “so you can continue to provide care for the animals.”
He reiterated that while Saipan Cares is still working on its new shelter in As Lito, the nonprofit organization is more than welcome to work with the Saipan Mayor’s Office in taking care of the dogs at the temporary shelter in As Perdido.
Pliscou said it was really good timing for the mayor’s office to help them now as they work to build a new shelter in As Lito.
“I am really thankful for the money and also for the cleanup over there,” she added.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, second left, hands Saipan Cares of Animals Director Elizabeth Pliscou, center, a check for $10,000 as Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 9 Recovery Division Director Robert M. Pesapane applauds during a presentation at the newly completed multi-function animal shelter facility in As Perdido on Wednesday. Also in photo are the special assistant to the mayor, Henry Hofschneider, second right; Saipan Mayor’s Office budget officer Teri Camacho, right; and Saipan Cares vice president Yumiko Brundidge.
