Two hours later, dog control program director Ray Lizama “notified” Walker of his decision to put her dogs “to sleep.”
Walker yesterday attended the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s meeting with the mayor and Lizama in the House chamber.
While Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, handed her tissue paper to wipe her tears, Walker said her dogs were tied when the unexpected visitor walked into her driveway.
“They took my dogs away. I tried to stop them but they were not listening to me,” the Garapan resident said.
Walker, an auto parts dealer, said she posted warning signs on her gate about the presence of dogs which, she added, were tied inside her property.
In his incident report, Lizama said he went to Walker’s house a few days after one of the businesswoman’s dogs attacked Wons Auto Shop owner Shang Sook Kim who was there to see some auto supplies.
Lizama said he interviewed Walker before he removed the first dog he saw at the scene.
At this juncture, he added, the second dog attacked dog control staffer Richard Santos.
This prompted them to take the second dog as well in compliance with the Dog Control Act, Lizama said.
Manny Alvarez, the co-owner of the dogs and a friend of the businesswoman, told lawmakers that Walker was so distressed about the dogs’ death that she was hospitalized the next day.
Flores apologized to Walker and Alvarez, saying “it’s unfortunate this incident happened.”
He added, “Its’ very disturbing to learn that after both of you [Walker and Alvarez] took time to train the dogs to protect her business, this incident happened.”
Flores assured them that the law will be followed accordingly while his office continues to protect the community.
The delegation chairman, Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, declined to comment about the incident but said “we have to look at the bigger picture, which involves health issue.”
Yesterday’s meeting, he added, discussed the status of Saipan’s dog control program.
“We need to have constant follow up and see if it’s working or not. If not then, we adjust it,” he said.
The dog tagging project of the mayor’s office, he added, is “so far, so good.”
