Over 300 dogs sterilized, 17 adopted
Christopher Hersha, dog handler for Animal Balance, tries to leash one of the dogs that is ready for neutering or zeuterin. (Jayson Camacho)
Over 300 dogs have already been sterilized since sterilization services kicked off last May 19, according to Animal Balance founder and director Emma Clifford yesterday.
Services for spay, neutering, and zeuterin were offered the whole day yesterday at the Kagman Community Center and this will go on until today, May 28, the last day of the sterilization service in Kagman.
The service will then move back to the Saipan Mayor’s Office Animal Shelter in Lower Base where adoption services will be readily available until May 30.
“For the adoption program last Friday, people came to look at the dogs and they came back with their families the following day and petted them and got to adopt 15 of them. Last night we bathed all the dogs and gave them flee and tick treatments and de-wormed them,” Clifford told Saipan Tribune.
Clifford said the remaining dogs at the shelter that hadn’t been sterilized yet will be sterilized on Friday and will be made ready for adoption.
“Up here at the shelter in Kagman, we have done sterilization project and brought up some of the shelter dogs and put bandanas on them and show them that they are up for adoption. We’ve adopted two here in Kagman,” she said.
A total of 17 dogs have been adopted, according to Saipan Mayor’s Office dog control program manager Spencer Marchadesch.
“The turnout has been really great and they have been coming in and bringing their dogs for the sterilization services,” Marchadesh said.
“Donations keep coming in and the community members and businesses are so generous in making donations and purchasing vouchers. We will put together the donations that we have gotten, both in-kind and cash donations, and will tabulate it later today and come up with the amount received,” he added.
Jason Hudy, a volunteer since the services kicked off, said they will have a volunteer meeting on June 6 at 4pm and June 7 at 10am in Lower Base.
The meeting aims to educate the community on how to volunteer their time at the Saipan animal shelter, provide foster care to animals in need, help with events, support animal protection legislation, and many more.
Aside from the adoption of dogs, cats are also available for adoption. Hudy noted that they have several cats and kittens for interested pet owners who want to adopt them.
For more information on volunteering and other ways to help, call Marchadesh at 234-6208 or email at spencer.cm8@gmail.com or contact Humane Society’s Inga Gibson through email at igibson@humanesociety.org.
My Mom always told me “Don’t complain if you don’t have a solution.” So I won’t. I hate to see all the cynics chime in here – sitting in the luxury of their homes NOT in the trenches of whatever news they read – putting everything down with their infinite wisdom, with not a solution in the world, just complaint. So I will offer up some optimism/suggestion.
First of all congratulations and kudos go to all of these people who have seemingly grabbed the bull by the horns and done their part (more than their part of course) to help solve our dog problem. What a fantastic effort of good-intentioned people trying to fix a sickening problem on our island.
I’m sure the people who have put their painstaking time into this know that without public education, this service is simply sweeping dirt under the rug, because until the mentality of the majority on this island understand the human element of our dog problem – it will always be a problem.
There is a critical flaw in our hopes to rid the streets of stray dogs with a registration concept and sterilization program alone. A public education program that promotes dog ownership responsibility is imperative. Without one, human mentalities that feed the stray dog problem will simply continue to fuel the need to catch and euthanize them (an endless and evil cycle).
There are places in the world where ZERO stray dogs can be seen in public. This is unequivocally a result of dog owners who believe:
Dog ownership is a life-long commitment
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility of tending to the health needs of the dog (required shots, treatment of illness, provision of food, water, shelter);
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility to spay and neuter your dog (unless breeding is intended) in order to prevent unwanted strays;
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility to humanely CONTAIN your dog in a confined area (not with binding chains and ropes around the neck) and with plenty of shade during all angles of the day’s sun.
In these stray-free societies, if one cannot afford to carry out the above, he or she does not take on the responsibility of dog ownership. And while most everyone loves a cute puppy, those in a stray-free society don’t take one on unless they’re committed to its care as an adult, for life (when they grow up they’re not as cute, consume more and have health issues).
In Saipan, when most look to the stray dog problem, many unfortunately curse ‘those darn dogs’ as the culprit of the problem. It is a HUMAN problem not a dog problem and will continue to be unless an overall human mentality is changed.
The majority of children in Saipan are terrified of dogs. This is a sad and
unfortunate reality. Strays, not afforded the basic needs of responsible dog ownership can be angry, unhealthy, ill-tempered, unsightly animals, and this is the perception our children get of dogs. Dogs are wonderful companions for
children, but only if cared for responsibly.
I tried about 15 years ago to help promote the above idea in our community but got frustrated with inaction. Of course many see the issue differently. As a multi cultural community, I understand we have to be accepting of all cultures. But
animal cruelty is animal cruelty and community education and stricter cruelty laws would provide for better community understanding and ultimately no more stray dogs!
I believe PSS should be tapped to generate a grass roots outreach program to educate our youth. Children need to see the product of a trained and well cared for dog (most have not). They need to be taught the dos and don’ts of responsible dog ownership. Let the youth teach the parents. I understand this is easier said than done, as funding is always at issue, but volunteers, such as myself are willing to try and make a difference.
This message may only serve as my way to vent after witnessing – first hand – this terrible endless cycle (unwitting dog owners perpetuating the endless supply of strays while anti-stray programs catch and kill). If this letter changes the
mentality of just one, the time I’ve spent is not wasted. Who knows, maybe a more pragmatic dog treatment program will someday be launched as a result of letters like this and effective action by our elected officials.
My Mom always told me “Don’t complain if you don’t have a solution.” So I won’t. I hate to see all the cynics chime in here – sitting in the luxury of their homes NOT in the trenches of whatever news they read – putting everything down with their infinite wisdom, with not a solution in the world, just complaint. So I will offer up some optimism.
First of all congratulations and kudos go to all of these people who have seemingly grabbed the bull by the horns and done their part (more than their part of course) to help solve our dog problem. What a fantastic effort of good-intentioned people trying to fix a sickening problem on our island.
I’m sure the people who have put their painstaking time into this know that without public education, this service is simply sweeping dirt under the rug, because until the mentality of the majority on this island understand the human element of our dog problem – it will always be a problem.
There is a critical flaw in our hopes to rid the streets of stray dogs with a registration concept and sterilization program alone. A public education program that promotes dog ownership responsibility is imperative. Without one, human mentalities that feed the stray dog problem will simply continue to fuel the need to catch and euthanize them (an endless and evil cycle).
There are places in the world where ZERO stray dogs can be seen in public. This is unequivocally a result of dog owners who believe:
Dog ownership is a life-long commitment
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility of tending to the health needs of the dog (required shots, treatment of illness, provision of food, water, shelter);
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility to spay and neuter your dog (unless breeding is intended) in order to prevent unwanted strays;
Dog ownership carries with it the responsibility to humanely CONTAIN your dog in a confined area (not with binding chains and ropes around the neck) and with plenty of shade during all angles of the day’s sun.
In these stray-free societies, if one cannot afford to carry out the above, he or she does not take on the responsibility of dog ownership. And while most everyone loves a cute puppy, those in a stray-free society don’t take one on unless they’re committed to its care as an adult, for life (when they grow up they’re not as cute, consume more and have health issues).
In Saipan, when most look to the stray dog problem, many unfortunately curse ‘those darn dogs’ as the culprit of the problem. It is a HUMAN problem not a dog problem and will continue to be unless an overall human mentality is changed.
The majority of children in Saipan are terrified of dogs. This is a sad and
unfortunate reality. Strays, not afforded the basic needs of responsible dog ownership can be angry, unhealthy, ill-tempered, unsightly animals, and this is the perception our children get of dogs. Dogs are wonderful companions for
children, but only if cared for responsibly.
I tried about 15 years ago to help promote the above idea in our community but got frustrated with inaction. Of course many see the issue differently. As a multi cultural community, I understand we have to be accepting of all cultures. But
animal cruelty is animal cruelty and community education and stricter cruelty laws would provide for better community understanding and ultimately no more stray dogs!
I believe PSS should be tapped to generate a grass roots outreach program to educate our youth. Children need to see the product of a trained and well cared for dog (most have not). They need to be taught the dos and don’ts of responsible dog ownership. Let the youth teach the parents. I understand this is easier said than done, as funding is always at issue, but volunteers, such as myself are willing to try and make a difference.
This message may only serve as my way to vent after witnessing – first hand – this terrible endless cycle (unwitting dog owners perpetuating the endless supply of strays while anti-stray programs catch and kill). If this letter changes the
mentality of just one, the time I’ve spent is not wasted. Who knows, maybe a more pragmatic dog treatment program will someday be launched as a result of letters like this and effective action by our elected officials.