Animals also sought shelter during typhoon

Puppies and cats are up for adoption at the Saipan Mayor’s Dog Control Program. Call program manager Spencer Camacho-Marchadesch at (670) 783-4743 (Contributed Photo)

A video making the rounds on Facebook shows a man rescuing six dogs that have been abandoned just before Hurricane Florence hit the Carolinas this week. The video shows the dogs up to their chest already in floodwaters and were in danger of drowning if not for the timely arrival of help.

Tragically, the video is typical. In times of disaster, animals are oftentimes a second thought, bearing the painful brunt of crises and often dying in the process.

Last week’s Typhoon Mangkhut was an example. It not only impacted people; it was also devastating to animals, especially those that don’t belong to a family to care for them.

Imagine a situation where you are lost, disoriented, and trying to understand the environment you’re in. Even worse, what if you are a homeless cat or dog, wandering the streets and looking for food while battling strong winds, rain, hunger, and cold.

This is what Abby Elmo of Chalan Piao felt when her daughter came inside the house holding a small kitten in her hands last Monday afternoon just hours before the expected landfall of Typhoon Mangkhut.

“My daughter asked me, ‘Mom, can we adopt this cat?’ I asked where she found the cat because the owner might be looking for it. The kitten appeared to be pitiful, vulnerable, and sweet. Our whole family decided to take the poor kitten in and she’s now a part of the family,” she said.

“We have to make space for her in our house and in our hearts. We already have other [pets]. …It was a tough decision [and] in my mind, ‘Oh, it’s another pet!’ But once you see this kitten, your heart will melt and, with a typhoon that was strong as Mangkhut, you know immediately that she will not have any chance to live,” she added.

Saipan Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program manager Spencer Camacho-Merchadesh said there were a total of 70 cats and dogs at the compound when Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Marianas last Monday.

“It’s hard for animals right now…I was at the compound the day after the storm and checked on the animals. There were only some debris scattered and we are fortunate to still have water and all the animals are okay.”

“We have accumulated this much animals in the compound because, aside from the calls that we get from people like off-leash dogs or those who are confined, there are just so many out in the streets with no homes that we are forced to pick them up and bring them to the shelter,” he added.

Spencer said the shelter needs the community’s help in sharing their homes with the cats and dogs that are under their care.

“We welcome everyone who has a room in their hearts and homes to come and adopt… Our dogs range from 3-month-old puppies to 7-year-old dogs,” he said.

“We are open everyday, including weekends from 7am to 4:30pm… At times, especially before and after a storm, we need all the help that we can get. For more information, call the Mayor’s Office at 234-6208 or in my phone at 783-4743,” he added.

Saipan Cares for Animals feared so much for the safety of their dogs and cats at the clinic that they sought help from the community to help foster the animals during Typhoon Mangkhut. “I did a quick post on Facebook that I was concerned that the cat area might be blown away and we have no place for them inside because the cat area outside is where they live. People just immediately came and responded and that I had more people to take care of the cats than we have cats,” said Saipan Care for Animals president Beth Pliscou.

“It was 28 cats that were gone in just an hour. All fostered out. People kept coming and they took some puppies that also needed a lot of care because they are young and needed more attention, that’s why we cannot leave them for 24 hours. Somebody took all the puppies for foster care,” Pliscou added.

Pliscou is hopeful that adoptions will come out of foster care.

“We are hoping that some adoptions will happen because they took them into their homes… I really did not know what we would them with them before the storm. One thing is for sure: we cannot possibly leave them outside. All the dogs were put in kennels inside, but there isn’t a kennel for the cats because we don’t have the room,” she said.

“We always have a few families that are regulars that are always fostering and getting animals, but when we really had this emergency, people were right there. We have kittens, puppies, and young adult dogs that are up for adoption. Please call 285-5448 for inquiries. It’s only $30 to take one of them and everybody is spayed and neutered and vaccinate,” she added.

Julie Florencondia-Hall of Navy Hill was one of the responders to SCA’s call to foster cats. “A friend sent me a message about Saipan Cares for Animals post about the need for fostering. The original plan was to take two cats but I went home with three… I really felt sorry and worried about what might happen to them,” she said.

Florencondia-Hall said the cats kept them entertained, making the height of the storm bearable. “They’re really fun and friendly and easy to take care of because they’re litter trained. My daughter Julianna played with them and we were happy to give the cats a home,” she added.