Yumuls help feed dogs at animal shelter

Frances Yumul, fifth right, and son, former senatir Ray Yumul, fourth right, join their staff at YCO Hardware-True Value in turning over more than 10 sacks of dog food to the Saipan Mayor’s Office.
(Jon Perez)

The Yumul family, led by former senator Ray Yumul, donated $600 worth of dog food to help feed the dogs at the at the animal shelter, which is being maintained by the Animal Control Office under the Saipan Mayor’s Office. Non-profit group Saipan Cares for Animals is assisting them.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and ACO program director Spencer Marchadesch accepted the 15 sacks of dog food from YCO Hardware-True Value owners Ray and Frances Yumul yesterday. SMO staff and True Value personnel were also present during the donation.

Ray Yumul said this is the second time that they have donated sacks of dog food to the mayor’s office for the dogs at the animal shelter.

“Hopefully we could do this regularly. We also sell pet supplies and we donate some to the mayor’s office. We have always helped the mayor’s office in any way that we can,” Yumul added.

He said that he encourages families who have pets, especially dogs, to have them either spayed or neutered to help control the animal population.

“Controlling the dog population on the islands is one of the main concerns by the mayor’s office. Tourism is getting bigger on Saipan and we don’t want our guests to be bitten by stray dogs,” added Yumul.

Apatang again thanked the Yumuls for their generosity and at the same time encouraged other business to do their share in helping with the daily operations of the animal shelter.

“The family of the former senator has always been one of the big contributors in some of our programs. People and businesses like theirs are the ones that help keep the shelter running,” said Apatang.

“We don’t have enough funds and this donation, providing food for the dogs at the shelter, is a big help. Some of the dogs are getting hungry and we feed them twice a day. This will help with their daily nourishment,” he added.

The animal shelter is now located in As Perdido, at the quarantine office of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, after transferring last month since the facility in Lower Base had been condemned by the Department of Public Works’ Building Safety Code Division.

The animal shelter in Lower Base sustained heavy structural damaged during Typhoon Soudelor with repair and renovation no longer possible. The location was also a flood zone area, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.