The Saipan Humane Society conducts a spay and neuter clinic at the Koblerville Community Center on Monday.
The Dog Control Program’s Toshi Tagawa carries an animal at the Koblerville Community Center during the Saipan Humane Society’s February spay and neuter clinic.
Dr. Jessica Nelson, left, and veterinarian technician Lauren Ruiz are on island to help the Saipan Humane Society conduct a spay and neuter clinic.
The Dog Control Program’s Joseph Mafnas and his colleague Toshi Tagawa assist the Saipan Humane Society at its spay and neuter clinic.
Saipan Humane Society clinic manager Ruby Ma and visiting veterinarian technician Lauren Ruiz treat a pet at an ongoing spay and neuter clinic at the Koblerville Community Center on Monday.
THE Saipan Humane Society is conducting a spay and neuter clinic at the Koblerville Community Center.
The clinic, which started on Monday, will continue until Feb. 16, SHS President Lauren Cabrera said.
Spay and neuter services are in high demand, and spots have “mostly filled up” for pet surgeries for the remainder of this week, she added.
However, she still encourages the public to visit the organization’s website, saipanhumanesociety.org, and register to be placed on the “standby list.”
When openings become available, SHS staff will schedule people on the standby list to see visiting veterinarian Dr. Jessica Nelson and veterinary technician Lauren Ruiz.
“[Dr. Nelson] is very skilled so there is a chance we may be opening more spots up. So stay tuned and communicate with us,” Cabrera said.
Spay and neuter services for dogs and female cats cost $75 per animal. The same services cost $50 for male cats.
SHS is also offering emergency visits and specialty surgeries such as amputation or lump removal.
When Variety contacted SHS, Cabrera estimated that they had already performed services for more than 20 animals.
She is thankful for the help of Ruiz and Nelson, as well as the Banfield Foundation, which has partnered with SHS to fly U.S. veterinarians to the CNMI.
“The visiting veterinarian, Dr. Nelson, and veterinary technician Lauren Ruiz have been wonderful to work with, and are big supporters of what we are doing,” Cabrera said.
For its part, the Dog Control Program of the Saipan mayor’s office “is lending two staff for clinic day to assist us, which has been a huge help. They are very well trained [in] veterinary technician skills, which has been amazing,” Cabrera said.
