PAWS disbands after 2 decades

After 22 years of service, the Pet Assistance and Welfare Services of the CNMI is disbanding, blaming it on a general lack of interest from the public.

PAWS is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the health, care, welfare, and population control of cats and dogs in the CNMI and to the education of the public on animal care and rights. It was established in March 1993.

“It’s a pretty much lack of interest from the community in PAWS. Bobbi [Grizzard] and I have struggled for years to run it ourselves but none of us have the time to make that type of organization work. While we still very much believe in our cause, we can’t keep supporting it with just the two of us,” said PAWS president Sarah Fryling.

“At first we had lots of people who were willing to volunteer, willing to donate,” said Grizzard, who is both the group’s secretary and treasurer. “Since then we have lost a lot of people who have moved off island, others who now have other interests.”

Fryling says she understand why people are not stepping forward. “Helping out animals is a very emotionally draining thing to do especially [on] Saipan where there’s so little care. I very much understand and I feel like if we have a couple more people to contribute some energy, we probably could’ve kept going.”

In its over two decades of existence, PAWS has supported and pushed legislation to increase animal awareness education and protection in the CNMI. They’ve also spent a lot of time in organizing adoptions and working with a veterinarian to improve animal care. PAWS used to have a veterinarian check the animals first before they can be put up for adoption.

“We can’t afford it anymore. It costs too much money. It’s not the vet’s fault, he has managed to not charge us for money for a long time and it’s not fair to him because he is in business too,” Grizzard said.

“PAWS just can’t afford to subsidize the care of animals anymore,” she added.

The two are just glad there are other organizations such as the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the Saipan Cares for Animals that are now helping the animals on island. They said they fully support these groups and wish them well in their projects.

Even though PAWS will no longer exist, Fryling says she hopes for an increase in animal welfare awareness.

“I would love people to increase their awareness of animal welfare from their participation in adoption clinics and making sure that the animals are spayed and neutered. I think that is one of the most important things that Saipan needs to focus on,” Fryling said.