PAWS is not shutting down, at least for now

A last-ditch effort to save the Pet Assistance and Welfare Services paid off with additional volunteers signing up yesterday, but advocates say the government should also do its part by enforcing a longtime animal leash law and passing an anti-animal cruelty bill.

“Tentatively, it looks like we’re still in business,” PAWS president Katie Busenkell told Saipan Tribune during yesterday’s no-host meeting at Coffee Care on Capital Hill to recruit more members.

Busenkell and PAWS treasurer Bobbi Grizzard hope all the 18 who signed up as additional volunteers will make good on their promise to help PAWS continue its programs and services.

PAWS is the only non-profit animal welfare organization in the CNMI since 1993.

Over 20 individuals, including PAWS members, showed up at the meeting and the group expects to have more volunteers in the days ahead.

PAWS earlier said the group was reduced to three board members and fewer than 30 general members.

“We cannot continue to operate with so few active volunteers. The demand for help is too much for three people to handle alone. So, the board has decided that if fewer than 15 people attend the meeting on the 30th, we will be forced to dissolve the organization,” Busenkell earlier said.

Yesterday, PAWS felt relieved, albeit tentatively, that more than 15 signed up as volunteers.

Busenkell said the government has not been enforcing its animal leash law and lawmakers have been sitting on an anti-animal cruelty bill introduced early last year.

Rep. Stanley Torres introduced House Bill 16-13 or the Animal Protection Act of 2008 on Feb. 11, 2008, but the bill has yet to be acted on. It aims to prohibit the cruel treatment and theft of animals and provide penalty for such acts.

“Animal control or animal law in general helps facilitate a productive society…Tourism, property values and public health are affected by a lack of animal control and so even if you are not an animal lover, somehow you are being affected by the failure to control the animal population,” Busenkell said, adding that this alone should get more people involved, not only those who are animal lovers.

She said PAWS need the support of people, including writing to elected officials to pass the anti-animal cruelty bill or push the government to start enforcing its local animal leash law.

Busenkell added that mayoral candidates should also need to educate themselves about the importance of animal control done in a humane way.

“I would never want to talk the government into opening an [animal] shelter that they can’t afford to run efficiently or humanely so it would help to asses the situation, educate themselves on Saipan’s needs and our ability to do the best we can with what we have,” the PAWS president added.

PAWS and Beautify CNMI’s Animal Welfare Committee are also hosting the third dog show tentatively set for June, according to Busenkell.

“It’s really been a successful event. Last year, we had about 80 people in attendance. It was a great fundraiser and it’s a lot of fun,” she added.

Event organizers will be meeting Tuesday noon at Oleai Bar & Grill.

More information about PAWS is available online at www.paws-saipan.org andhttp://paws-saipan.blogspot.com. Those who have inquiries can email bgrizzard@saipan.com or call 483-9464 or 285-PAWS.

Since its inception, PAWS has been able to help animals in need of homes and medical care. Over the years, it has offered the community help with veterinary costs, hosted low-cost spay and neuter clinics, found homes for unwanted animals, organized a humane education committee, hosted dog shows, and worked toward improving the lives of Saipan’s people and animals by lobbying for an anti-cruelty statute and a humane animal shelter.