The Pet Assistance and Welfare Services is holding a meeting at end of this month to determine if it can continue its existence.
PAWS president, Katie Busenkell said the get-together will be held at the Coffee Care in Sadog Tasi at noon on April 30.
She said the organization has been suffering from lack of participation from its members over the last few years.
PAWS, however, has not stopped advocating responsible pet ownership on the islands, it added.
By having pictures of pets up for adoption published in newspapers, the organization continues to care, PAWS stated.
At some point in the past, particularly during the Beautify CNMI islandwide clean up campaign in 2006, PAWS became very active in educating leaders and members of the community about the significance of animal care.
PAWS also pushed aggressively for the construction of an animal shelter on Saipan, which the mayor’s office has yet to accomplish although the project has already been funded.
Angelo Villagomez, a Beautify CNMI volunteer who also owns pets, said a lot of volunteer organizations are suffering because the economy is “rough.”
“A lot of people involved are leaving the islands,” he added.
Several PAWS volunteers have already left the CNMI due to bad economy, thus affecting the organization, he said.
Busenkell said something needs to be done.
Those who still care, she said “need to either take action or call it quits.”
