SHS relocates and improves efficiency, expands education

Saipan Humane Society announced its move to a new location situated in Garapan on Angaha Street, behind Salt & Barber. This move has allowed the organization to expand and offer more efficient care to pets—for example, sick animals can be seen in individual exam rooms.

The relocation to a new premises does not signify the end of SHS’ partnership with the Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program though.

“We owe much of our success to the support of DCP. They stood by us even before SHS existed,” said SHS board president Lauren Cabrera.

Established in February 2023, SHS initially prioritized spay/neuter accessibility. However, following the sudden closure of the Saipan Cares for Animals clinic that May, SHS promptly redirected its efforts toward ensuring continued access to animal healthcare for CNMI residents. With no resident veterinarian on island, this posed significant challenges. Financial sustainability proved difficult, given the economic difficulties facing the CNMI. Additionally, sourcing supplies posed a challenge due to the region’s remoteness. Despite these hurdles, SHS has managed to thrive and aims to establish itself as a sustainable clinic serving the community for years to come. Much of the clinic’s success can be attributed to generous donations, support from the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, and help from Banfield Foundation, which offered start-up support to get the new clinic location off the ground.

Appointments

The clinic is transitioning toward an appointment-centered approach. Guadalupe Attao, the newly appointed executive director of SHS, explains, “By transitioning to appointments, our aim is to enhance efficiency in care provision. Through scheduling, we can stagger patient visits throughout the day, minimizing wait times for our clients.”

Education

SHS remains committed to staff development and continuing education, ensuring that its personnel receive the necessary training to deliver optimal care to pets. Attao and clinic director Ruby Ma will attend the national Animal Care Expo in San Antonio, Texas this May, courtesy of a scholarship from Humane Society International. This event brings together animal welfare professionals from across the nation for educational workshops, learning labs, and networking opportunities. Consequently, SHS anticipates being short-staffed during May and encourages clients to schedule appointments to facilitate staff planning. However, emergency walk-ins will still be accommodated.

In another development, Ma has been accepted into Purdue University’s Veterinary Nursing program, the leading program of its kind in the country. She will complete most of her studies online, attending clinical learning experiences off-island. Additionally, SHS is hosting two interns from the Northern Marianas College through Project PROA, which aims to open opportunities for students in the community to explore careers in animal health.

“Just as in human hospitals, veterinary facilities should encompass a range of roles including providers, nurses, assistants, and more,” states Cabrera. “It is hard to recruit people to live in the CNMI. We need to train people who are already here”.

For updates on the weekly clinic schedule, a clinic map, or to make appointments, visit www.saipanhumanesociety.org. (PR)