Public reminded of Saipan regulations governing dogs

Photo shows the new Saipan Mayor’s Dog Control Program Animal Shelter in As Perdido, where stray or unregistered dogs (LEIGH GASES)

As the CNMI ramps up efforts to revive its tourism industry and as its borders slowly open up to more tourists, the Dog Control Program under the Saipan Mayor’s Office has initiated a second round of outreach to remind pet owners of the current dog regulations set by the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

Some villages over the course of the past couple months in the south of Saipan have already received an “Outreach Notice” from staff of the Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program, which will make their way all around the island. Currently, the dog control staff are up on Capital Hill and will make their way down to Sadog Tasi and onward to the rest of the villages, passing out the outreach notices, which states the regulations governing the program.

Martin Pangelinan, manager of the dog control program in As Perdido, said the outreach aims to keep community members and tourists safe from potential harmful dog bites. He described the outreach as “doing well.”

“We’re seeing progress with passing out the information about the program,” he said.

Pangelinan said that it takes just five minutes and he asks residents to give the staff their time and to abide by the regulations. He said that their staff do not go to residences with “No trespassing” signs, but will just find somewhere else to attach the notice.

The first round of the outreach was prior to COVID-19 back in 2019 when Pangelinan first started enforcing the regulations as a new manager of the animal shelter.

Henry Hofschneider, special assistant to Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, said the regulations are there “to control the dog population. …The notice is just to educate people. …Pet owners have responsibilities to take care of their pets, to make sure that they’re confined when they’re not on a leash. …And also to educate people that we should help each other control the dog population because we’ve seen dogs roam around and scavenge for trash. And the worst thing is, they chase after students. …Sometimes they get bitten. We’ve had some reports of vicious dogs and near bites, so that’s the purpose. It’s to just ask everyone to help us help each other control the dog population.” 

Hofschneider added that the regulations are also for any animals that are owned by residents such as cats, cattle, goats, and other farm animals that are left unconfined that may become deterrents to the cleanliness and safety of the community.

Residents have “been very receptive and welcoming and supportive of the effort our Dog Control Program staff are doing. We appreciate that and that’s what we want to do. We just want to work together, cooperate, and make our public places and neighborhoods safe,” Hofschneider said.

For any questions or concerns regarding your dogs or the current regulations, visit the new Saipan Mayor’s Animal Shelter in As Perdido, which is open weekdays from 9am to 4pm or contact them at (670)234-3647.