Apatang: Be responsible pet owners
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang is once again reminding everyone to become responsible pet owners so they could do their part in his office’s animal population control measures.
He said that stray dogs are also one of their main concerns with the Animal Control Office tasked to catch them.
“We keep on putting out the message and have been telling pet owners to become responsible. We’re asking them again not to let the dogs out, register them, or tie them,” said Apatang.
Pets, dogs or cats, are sometimes victims of road kill if their owners left them outside of their homes or have failed to secure them.
Apatang said that some of the stray dogs reach Garapan’s tourist district where they chase everyone walking. “They are chasing tourists and that’s not good. We want to keep unleashed pets away from the tourist district so they won’t scare away the people.”
Apatang lauded the efforts done by the Animal Control Office led by program manager Spencer Merchadesch and his staff Rodney Babauta, Lee Mark Deleon Guerrero, Ton Leon Guerrero, and Jaime Toytoy.
“There are also a lot of dogs at the beach side of Aquarius [Beach Tower] hotel where they multiplied. Sometimes, those who are spending their weekends at the beach feed them bones. The animal control staff had caught some of the stray dogs there,” said Apatang.
He added that stray dogs, most of the time, have not been given vaccine for rabies and that’s not good since they could bite a person.
I wasn’t aware there was concern for rabies on island. If you tie up your dog, that doesn’t mean you leave it tied up in the heat with no water, or tie it up forever. Protect your dog who in turn will protect your house. Walk your dog to bond with him/her. Use this time to exercise with your family, which includes your dog(s). Use leashes when walking to prevent problems with people. Use plastic bags to pick up the poo when you are in a public place, like the park. Being responsible go way beyond just tying your dogs because they scare tourists. Being responsible includes caring for them properly so they are healthy and safe and able to love you forever and ever.