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10-day dog spay/neuter program starts today
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, Humane Society International, and Animal Balance are urging dog owners to avail of the spay/neuter program that starts today.
The 10-day program will run until May 23 at the Saipan Animal Shelter in Lower Base. The services will then switch to Kagman from May 25 to 29.
“I urge everyone to take advantage of this program because it is an opportunity for them to take their dogs in for treatment,” Apatang said.
His office had been preparing for months and working with other organizations to bring the program to the island.
HSI is also urging residents to make a $25 donation for the sterilization of their dogs to offset surgical supply costs. However, the program is free and no dogs will be turned away.
Spaying and neutering is a proven humane and effective method of reducing both owned and free-roaming dog populations. Dogs who are sterilized live longer, healthier lives but still remain protective of their owner’s property.
HSI’s goal is for at least 70 percent of Saipan and Rota’s dog populations to be sterilized to see significant overall population declines.
Apatang and his office had been working to get this program going, along with their stray dog removal campaign that will continue on a quarterly basis.
In an earlier interview, Apatang said he will continue to bring in more spay/neuter programs and eventually try to get a veterinarian for the office.
Right now, Saipan has only one veterinarian, a private clinic.
“The stray dog removal campaign will continue every quarter. We have been doing the removals but sometimes we have to move away from the campaign and address the calls of other residents for help,” Apatang said.
For more information on the program, contact the Mayor’s Office at 234-6208 or email saipanmayorsoffice@gmail.com. For more information on HSI Street Dog welfare programs, visit hsi.org/streetdogs.
