He said a report on the dog control plan prepared by Northern Marians College-Cooperative Research Extension & Education Services in coordination with the mayor’s office also showed that for every household there were at least two dogs.
There could be 15,000 to 20,000 stray dogs on island, he said.
Based on another survey conducted last year, Lizama said the human population on Saipan was 48,317.
Included in the dog control program is to control the population of animals, he added.
“We will start controlling the population of dogs then the cats and other pets,” he said.
On June 6, the dog tagging phase will be launched at the Carolinian Utt in Garapan and this is expected to draw many dog owners, Lizama said.
He clarified that although part of the dog tagging requirement is the vaccination of dogs, it will not be mandatory.
“Vaccination is optional but we encourage dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated,” he said.
During the dog tagging phase, owners will be asked whether their pets have been vaccinated or not, he added.
