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Saipan delegation wants mayor’s office to shed light on dog control program
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Posted on Aug 08 2011
Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan) asked Saipan Mayor Donald Flores yesterday to shed light on its dog control and licensing program.
“While the delegation is cognizant of the ongoing program to license dogs in Saipan, there has yet to be identified rules and regulations as promulgated by the Office of the Mayor pursuant to Section 3 of Saipan Local Law 9-12,” Tebuteb said in an Aug. 8 letter to Flores.
Tebuteb said delegation members have expressed concern with the licensing, control, and disposal of dogs on Saipan.
As delegation chairman, Tebuteb asked the mayor’s office to meet with members of the delegation on Wednesday at 10am in the House chamber, to discuss the matter.
“At the same time, I strongly recommend that you are accompanied to this meeting with your staff charged with the responsibility to enforce the dog program in Saipan,” Tebuteb added.
The Saipan mayor’s office has been registering dogs on the island, and revenues from the fees will be used to build a permanent animal shelter, possibly in Lower Base.
Saipan Local Law 9-12 created the dog control program.
Based on a survey conducted by the Northern Marianas College-CREES program last year, Saipan has an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 stray animals wandering around villages and communities. The number continues to increase due to its uncontrolled population.
Hofschneider said that Flores is very pleased with the program’s initial turnout and is optimistic that more and more pet owners will join the campaign to take responsibility for their animals.
The municipality reopened the registration and tagging on July 11 in Chalan Kanoa; it will run through Dec. 9. After that date, pet owners who wish to register their dogs will have to go to a designated place that the municipality will identify later.
