SAIPAN faces a “serious” stray dog problem, according to Henry Hofschneider, special assistant to Mayor David M. Apatang.
A stray dog is seen near a residence in Chalan Kiya on Wednesday.
In an interview, Hofschneider said it is getting harder to implement the stray dog control program because the dog population is “out of control.”
A lot of dogs have been abandoned by their owners while others are being allowed to “roam” by their owners, he added.
Hofschneider said the mayor’s office transports these dogs to the animal control shelter where they will be held for 120 hours or five days to give owners a chance to retrieve their dogs and pay an impoundment fee.
He said the abandoned dogs are offered for adoption. If no owners came to claim the dog or no one adopted them after five days, the dogs are “put to sleep,” he added.
Hofschneider also noted that there is only one certified veterinarian in the CNMI, former Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz.
Badly needed
In a separate interview, Dela Cruz said he is already a retiree, but his expertise is badly needed in the community.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres recognizes the necessity of Dela Cruz’s services.
In an April 27, 2021 letter to NMI Settlement Fund Trustee Joyce C.H. Tang, the governor said the CNMI government “wishes to re-employ Dr. Dela Cruz as the state veterinarian for the Commonwealth and seek your concurrence under 1 CMC Section 8392(a)(5) which states: ‘[a] person who has retired and received retirement benefits from the government of the Northern Mariana Islands shall not be employed by or under an employment or consulting contract with the government of the Northern Mariana Islands…unless the person is [s]pecifically exempted by the governor, with the concurrence of the [NMI Settlement Fund.]”
The governor told Tang that it is clear that the CNMI needs the skills and experience of Dela Cruz to fulfill a critical public service.
The governor is asking Tang to exempt Dela Cruz from the “anti-double-dipping” provision of the law.
The governor said the state veterinarian position fulfils an important public service.
Re-employing Dela Cruz, he added, “would permit the Commonwealth to provide essential and critical veterinary and ambulatory services to local farmers, ranchers and pet owners.” These critical services include vaccinations, deworming, and treatment of certain skin diseases, especially ringworms, sarcoptic mange, coral allergy as well as husbandry and euthanasia services.
“Not only is the position of state veterinary important, Dr. Dela Cruz fills that need,” Torres said.
“Dr. Dela Cruz is the only veterinarian currently in the CNMI. Also, Dela Cruz is experienced in the position as he has performed this duty for the CNMI on previous occasions,” the governor told the Settlement Fund trustee.
Dela Cruz said the CNMI government has yet to hear from the Settlement Fund trustee.
