Construction of dog shelter to start

Mayor Donald Flores on Friday said that their office will start the procurement of materials from local vendors for the construction of a proposed dog shelter in Lower Base following the signing of a memorandum agreement with the Northern Marianas Trades Institute.

Flores said in an interview that he signed the agreement Monday last week and their office, in collaboration with the NMTI, will begin initial construction of the dog shelter, the site for which was previously occupied by a small garment manufacturer called Saipan Manufacturers Inc.

“I’m very happy that this day has come for us to start planning on the dog shelter site,” he said after his meeting with the seven-member delegation of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Western Recruiting Region from San Diego, California led by Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Yoo.

Flores noted, however, that he signed the agreement for the construction of the dog shelter, which will house 36 kennels, and forwarded it to NMTI founder and president Anthony Pellegrino. The mayor did not disclose specific information about the agreement.

Pellegrino, in a separate phone interview, confirmed that he already signed the agreement but pointed out that he will have to meet again with the mayor to iron out schedule and details.

While he, too, did not divulge any particulars about the agreement, Pellegrino said that the project will be built exclusively by NMTI students who will be working in phases as they will have to consider the Mayor’s Office budget.

Although the NMTI students who will be involved in the project will be paid $5.05 per hour, Pellegrino emphasized that the school will “not make any money” out of the project since the materials will be purchased by the Mayor’s office.

“We’re very happy that this is going to be ongoing and a great experience for our young men at NMTI, too,” Pellegrino told Saipan Tribune. “We’ll work on the project with whatever budget they have. If he has more money, we’ll continue. If not, we’ll stop.”

The mayor said the signing of the agreement is “timely” since the dog registration component of the dog control program is coming to an end.

Flores said the dog registration has been moved to the Saipan Mayor’s Office since Nov. 23 and will continue on that venue for another month.

With the dog registration expected to conclude before the year ends, Flores said they can focus their efforts in the construction project followed by the dog eradication component of the dog control program.