The Saipan mayor’s office has been prompt to respond to calls from PAWS and private citizens to pick up dead or abandoned animals. Over the last several months, PAWS has called the mayor’s office and asked for help in capturing a sickly and/or abandoned animals living near schools, beaches, or residences. To date, the mayor’s office has been quick to respond and has captured the animals in a humane method.
Dr. Tudor has also offered to contribute to the effort to reduce suffering and improve the community by euthanizing any animal brought to his hospital, for no charge, by the mayor’s office, so long as the mayor’s office disposes of the bodies.
“This may sound morbid,” said PAWS president Katie Busenkell, “but it is absolutely necessary. PAWS has no place to put these abandoned animals, and we certainly don’t have the funds to provide necessary medical care to so many animals. Catching and euthanizing these animals is the most humane option at this point in time.”
On Thursday evening, at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Donald Flores and his crew met PAWS at Laulau Beach to capture three dogs that had been abandoned and were starving. “The mayor and his crew were on time, even after normal works hours, well equipped with a noose and a dog catching cage used by animal control professionals,” Busenkell said. The noose is on loan to the mayor’s office from Dr. Tudor.
After spending the night at a staff member’s house, and being fed, the animals were transported to Dr. Tudor’s office to be euthanized, for no cost to the government, on Friday morning.
“To have Dr. Tudor’s humane and professional services available to these homeless animals is important to the mission, and should be comforting to the community,” said Busenkell.
The mayor is attempting to open a holding facility in Lower Base in the coming months.
PAWS has offered to recruit volunteers to work at the holding facility to ensure the animals receive proper and humane care.
If you are interested in volunteering for the mayor’s animal cleanup efforts, call 285-PAWS or e-mail [email protected].
//
