Saipan Humane Society Executive Director Lauren Cabrera said one of their goals this year is to make high quality care more accessible to the community.
Visiting veterinarian technician Lauren Ruiz examines a pet cat at the Koblerville Community Center, which was transformed into a temporary animal clinic.
THE recently concluded spay and neuter clinic hosted by the Saipan Humane Society performed 235 spay or neuter services, 182 medical visits, and four amputations in 11 days, SHS Executive Director Lauren Cabrera said.
Of the animals spayed or neutered, 109 were dogs, she added.
The animal clinic was conducted with the support of the Banfield Foundation, which funded the travel of veterinarian Dr. Jessica Nelson and veterinarian technician Lauren Ruiz.
The CNMI has no permanent practicing veterinarian.
The clinic ran from Feb. 5 to 16 at the Koblerville Community Center.
Cabrera said SHS is already looking for funds for its next spay and neuter clinic.
“Because most people cannot afford the $75 surgery fee, we need to find funding that will allow us to provide these services while still keeping our organization afloat,” she said. “We are looking into different grants and partnerships, but it is challenging to find one for this specifically.”
She is likewise supportive of funds that will take SHS to Tinian or Rota.
“Our last trip to Rota was funded by a typhoon relief grant from Veterinarians Without Borders. We hope to identify more funding opportunities in the future — please let us know if you hear of any!” she told Variety.
Next month, SHS will mark its first year of operation in the CNMI.
Cabrera said SHS “consistently sees 500 patients a month for medical visits.” She hopes that the figure will grow further.
In April, SHS, which is sharing a facility with the Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program, will have its own clinic space, she said.
“We are in a very unique situation here [in the CNMI] — no practicing veterinarian, 38% of our population living below the poverty level, and countless animals living on a tiny island far away from the mainland,” Cabrera said. “We have been very fortunate to have support from excellent experts and mentors, helping us grow rapidly.”
She said this year, the organization aims to continue its partnership with organizations like the Banfield Foundation and Veterinarians Without Borders “to make high quality care more accessible to the community.”
