“These animals appear to be coming onto the premises from the Marpi boonie area where former owners apparently dumped their dogs after the dogs became ill and the owners no longer want them,” Joe Asanuma, the resort’s personal manager, said.
In his letter to Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Asanuma said they can no longer afford to feed the animals.
“Some have made permanent homes in and around our cottages and have been known to bark threateningly at our hotel guest,” he added.
Before a hotel guest or anyone is seriously mauled by these animals, Asanuma said the mayor should do something to immediately address the problem.
He said the hotel is willing to catch and dispose the dogs with the assistance of the mayor’s office.
“Our staff will work cooperatively with your own staff in the effort to rid of the dogs in the most humane way possible,” he said.
Tudela was not available for comment as he was attending a conference for mayors in the U.S.
He has been asking lawmakers to fund the construction of the animal shelter and the implementation of the 1995 stray dog control law.
Tudela said the project needs $215,000.
In a letter dated Dec. 29, 2008, Tudela again informed Saipan’s lawmakers about the importance of constructing an animal shelter.
“Here I am today, appealing to everyone of you to please assist me for more funds to complete the municipal dog kennel, so that we can start putting in the hundreds of stray dogs to the facility, and eventually either we put them up for adoption or humanely put them to sleep by a local veterinarian,” the mayor said.
