Guam Animals In Need Executive Director Allison Hadley was recently on island to collaborate with the Saipan Humane Society and the Saipan mayor’s Dog Control Program. From left, back row, Ruby Ma, SHS clinic manager; Lauren Cabrera, SHS president; Jehnifer Villagomez, SHS staff member; Allison Hadley, GAIN executive director. Front row, from left, Guadalupe Attao, SHS deputy executive director, and Amber Estupinian, SHS staff member.
SAIPAN Humane Society staff will undergo training at the Guam Animals In Need or GAIN clinic later this month.
SHS President Lauren Cabrera said her staff will be on Guam to “advance their skills in animal care, animal sheltering, and animal control.”
Allison Hadley, GAIN’s executive director, said SHS has expressed interest in GAIN’S vaccine clinics, adoption processes, and spay and neuter surgeries.
SHS members will be working with GAIN staff in the clinic and with her in the office, Hadley said.
Guadalupe Attao, SHS deputy executive director, said they want to learn how GAIN runs its animal clinic.
Attao said the training collaboration is funded by the Humane Society International.
SHS staff will “learn some of the ins and outs of what [GAIN does] and see how we can cross train between Saipan and Guam,” she added.
Cabrera said five staff members from the Saipan mayor’s dog control program will also visit GAIN to learn about its operations and meet with other Guam-based animal control personnel.
Hadley said Guam and Saipan deal with “a lot of the same issues” when it comes to stray dogs and cats. These issues include feral animals injuring pets and livestock; stray dogs and cats causing public health concerns; and strays becoming eyesores for the tourism industry.
“These might be things that [SHS] doesn’t have as much experience with so we’re just trying to help provide some additional support,” Hadley said. “Whatever questions or training they want to go through, we’ll try and help with that as well. The CNMI doesn’t have a vet so [SHS] is trying to fill in those gaps as much as possible and GAIN is trying to contribute as much as we can,” Hadley added.
Cabrera earlier said that the biggest issue facing Saipan’s stray dogs and cats is overpopulation. She estimated there to be around 21,000 strays on Saipan alone.
The SHS website states that it was founded “in response to animal overpopulation and the need for veterinary services in the CNMI.” It is a separate organization from Saipan Cares for Animals.
