Program staff member James Villagomez says they have had around 20 applicants come to register their dogs in San Vicente.
So far the program has registered around 1,600 dogs but with an estimated count of 10,000 dogs on the island there is still a long way to go. After Sept. 16, the next station to hold the dog tagging will be in Kagman. In two-week intervals, the post moves up north to Capital Hill, Tanapag, San Roque, and lastly in As Lito village until the 9th of December.
Pet owners will have to proceed to the mayor’s office for registration after making payments at the CNMI Treasury office on Capital Hill, Revenue and Taxation in Dandan, or the Superior Court in Susupe.
Villagomez said “the program is going smoothly. But I urge every pet owner to please register their dogs now and not to wait until the deadline and have to pay more.”
If a dog is impounded, the owner must pay a 1st offense fee of $16 plus a $5 a day boarding fee.
If the dog is not claimed by an owner or adopted within 5-10 days depending on the health of the dog, it will be put down.
Villagomez said the number of dogs that were put down since January is now in the hundreds.
Most are strays with severe health problems.
“It’s cheap, it’s worth it, and in the end we will all gain from this program. Not only will it help the pet and the pet owners but the community as well along with tourists who will be able to walk freely around the island without being threatened by strays,”. Villagomez said.
For more information you can contact the Saipan Mayors Office at 234-6208/6225, or e-mail [email protected].
