Lower Base new site of Saipan stray dog program

A space previously occupied by a garment factory in Lower Base was identified as the new site for the Saipan stray dog control program, according to Mayor Juan B. Tudela.

Saying he could not wait much longer to enforce a project that has been stalled for more than a decade, Tudela disclosed yesterday that the construction of a temporary dog holding facility is scheduled for this month and its target operational date is April.

The mayor’s program was appropriated $75,000 by Saipan Local Law 9-12; however, the funding was delayed for many years due to the lack of resources.

The mayor disclosed that approximately $30,000 of the appropriated amount will be spent for construction materials.

“It is my intention to use the other portion of the amount for the formal operation of the program,” he said.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources entered into a memorandum of agreement in July 2006 approving the transfer of the DLNR’s piggery building in As Perdido to the mayor’s office, to be developed into an animal shelter for the stray dog control program.

The program was supposed to utilize the 20-feet by 45-feet facility to keep stray dogs, with the pens to be converted into kennels that will keep five to 10 dogs.

However, due to lack of additional funding to renovate the building, work on the project was stalled until the mayor decided to use a public land in Lower Base for the purpose.

“I don’t want to leave office without fulfilling this important vision…this program has been initiated by previous administrations but did not materialize due to the same funding issues,” said Tudela, who is in his last term in office.

The mayor said the new identified site could also accommodate up to 10 dogs—the same target in the As Perdido project.

To reduce the cost of production, the mayor said four of his people were asked to build the facility and would assign a few more individuals for its operation.

“I am hoping to see this facility in full operation by April,” the mayor said, admitting that if he waits for the completion of the requirements for the As Perdido project, “we may wait for another decade to build it.”

Tudela said his office is currently working on the local permitting from the Division of Environmental Quality and the Coastal Resources Management.

It was earlier learned that the conversion of the piggery facility into a dog shelter will require some $500,000. However, since the creation of the Stray Dog Control Act, only $75,000 has been allocated for the project.

Tudela recalled that the law authorizes both his municipality and the Northern Islands to capture stray dogs, charge fees for any dogs picked up, and establish a holding period before the stray dogs are disposed of.

He said that in 1995, it already was noted that stray dogs pose serious health and safety issues to people. “That was 11 years ago. Today the problem has grown to even larger proportions and packs of hungry dogs run wild in our villages and pose a danger to school children,” said the mayor.

He recounted that just last week, a Saipan Southern High School student was reported bitten by stray dog. The incident was reported to his office.

In 2003, through the collaboration with DLNR and Office of the Attorney General, the Dog Control Rules and Regulations were established. The Saipan Mayor’s Office then printed application forms and bought dog tags for the project.