SAIPAN Cares for Animals said it won’t let pet owners down despite the challenges it’s going through right now.
SCA is a non-profit rescue clinic that provides low-cost services to CNMI pet owners. It is comprised of a dedicated group of volunteers whose mission is to improve the lives of every dog and cat on Saipan through sterilization, medication, and community education.
Right now, SCA is taking care of over 100 dogs rescued from miserable conditions in various places on Saipan.
According to SCA staffers, the dogs in the As Gonno shelter are stray dogs or boonies, adding that there is no more room for pet boarding.
SCA Director Elizabeth Pliscou, in an email interview, said they have been informed by the CNMI Zoning Office that the clinic in As Gonno does not comply with the regulations, “and as such must be closed down or relocated.”
But Pliscou said SCA “will continue to provide low-cost services to the community from our As Gonno location through the end of January.”
Asked what led SCA to this situation, Pliscou said, “The circumstances that have led to this situation, to put it simply, is that I am not a business woman. My goal is and has always been to provide pet owners with accessible services and information.”
She said she would like to continue providing clinic and emergency services to the community. “Together we have accomplished so much. Pet owners have come to rely on SCA and I do not want to let them down,” she said adding that SCA and its staff are optimistic about the future.
They have recently acquired land in As Lito where they plan to build a new clinic and shelter that are in compliance with the rules of the zoning office, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Fish and Wildlife, and other regulatory government agencies.
“However these things take time and road bumps are to be expected,” she added. “In the meantime, we are looking for a place to temporarily conduct clinic services only. We’ve been struggling to find a suitable temporary location and would like to request the public’s assistance.”
Variety learned that SCA relies heavily on donations for dog food. Recently, SCA was granted American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay shelter managers, veterinary nurses and shelter assistants.
They all started out as volunteers who have been able to run the shelter for years through the help of federal grants.
Saipan Cares for Animals veterinary nurse Frances Pliscou with some of the rescued dogs in the As Gonno shelter.
Shelter Manager Yasuhito Taguchi takes a break with some of the dogs in the As Gonno shelter on Thursday
Shelter Manager Aileen Garcia feeds the puppies.
