GAIN visits CNMI to establish groundwork for spay/neuter efforts

Representatives of the Dog Control programs, Saipan Cares for Animals (Saipan and Tinian chapters), Guam Animals In Need, Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Edwin Aldan, Dr. Brenda Smith, and Dr. Idnacio Dela Cruz.  (GAIN)

Alison Hadley, executive director of non-profit group Guam Animals In Need; lead animal caretaker Arleen DeCastro; and GAIN spay/neuter veterinarian Dr. Brenda Smith visited both Tinian and Saipan during the week of March 28 to discuss bringing the group’s spay/neuter efforts to the CNMI. 

GAIN does its best to support Guam’s neighboring islands by sending food and supplies when needed, but now aim to take the next step.

“It has always been a goal of mine, as executive director, to bring assistance to the CNMI and its pets that goes beyond providing food,” said Hadley. “We want to help the animal control programs and the community as much as possible and we believe the best way to do that is assist in establishing a sustainable spay/neuter program out there.”

Representatives of the Tinian and Saipan Dog Control programs, Saipan Mayor David Apatang, Henry Hofschneider of the Office of the Mayor of Saipan, Dr. Brenda Smith, and GAIN. (GAIN)

DeCastro said this is something that the CNMI’s leaders have expressed an interest in “and we are excited and happy to help in any way we can.” 

GAIN met with the Dog Control Program and Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Edwin Aldan and the Dog Control Program and Saipan Mayor David Apatang, as well as Rep. Edwin Propst (D-Saipan), to discuss animal welfare needs and goals, as well as revisiting the CNMI Animal Protection and Control Act, or Public Law No. 21-31, to see how dog program staff may be statutorily authorized to perform procedures that animal shelter staff in Guam are statutorily authorized to perform, like in many other jurisdictions in the states in the U.S. 

“We are very fortunate to have a great relationship with Guam Animals In Need and can work together in improving our capability of providing and delivering better animal healthcare to dogs and cats in Saipan,” Apatang said. “It is time to bring how we operate our dog control program to present time practices and move on from old practices.”

Rep. Ed Propst (D-Saipan), Tinian and Saipan Dog Control programs, Henry Hofschneider of the Office of the Mayor of Saipan, Dr. Brenda Smith, and GAIN. (GAIN)

Aldan stated that “it was a great pleasure to have director Hadley from the Guam Animals In Need shelter visit Tinian and witness firsthand the completion of our dog kennel project.  Director Hadley has always been supportive of our Dog Control Program by providing us with supplies and feeds. She is in constant communication with our program manager, Mr. Michael Lee Borja, as they collaborate on ways to promote the adoption of our animals in the shelter.”

As the Lynn Raulerson Spay and Neuter Clinic at GAIN continues to move forward with its own spay/neuter efforts in Guam, GAIN will maintain close contact with Tinian and Saipan to stay focused on bringing spay/neuter efforts to the CNMI as soon as possible. GAIN also aims to bring Rota into the loop and take this next animal welfare step together. 

For more information about the Lynn Raulerson Spay and Neuter Clinic at GAIN, or to sign up on the surgery waiting list, you can visit: https://www.snipclinicguam.com/ (PR)