Group pushes bill to protect animals

An animal rights group on Saipan is pushing the House of Representatives to pass a bill that would prohibit cruelty and theft of animals and provide penalties for violators.

Jason Hudy of Saipan Care for Animals explained that House Bill 20-24 will help improve the lives of animals with medication, shelter, and socialization.

“This will increase the chances of animals, like dogs, to be taken home not just as just guard dogs but as a member of the family and as a loving pet,” he said.

Hudy said that Saipan Care for Animals does all it can to care for the animals under its care. “Unfortunately a lot of families cannot afford the private practices here, and we do not do all that a private practice can do, but we do basic services that we are able to offer.”

He feels that House Bill 20-24 will educate the community that animals, just like people, have feelings and it will hopefully decrease the number of animal abuse on island.

There, however, been a number of calls for the bill to be more specific.

“I ask that you look at the bill closely and specify what you will consider as animal cruelty,” said Juan I. Tenorio.

He said that he has been farming since he was in the fourth grade. Now at 69 years old, he feels it may affect the ways of farming on an island.

“I have grown to know that a dog is meant to be outside of the house. I take care of my dog; he is well fed, well medicated, and he is even fatter than I am. But I do not allow my dog inside the house. He is not meant to be on my bed or my couch. He is my guard, my protector. He has a doghouse outside. That is what I learned growing up, that dogs are to be used to protect our family, not to be inside our house,” Tenorio said.

The bill states that cruel neglect means to knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly fail to provide an animal with necessary food, water, or shelter for the animal to maintain normal health. The bill’s proposed penalties range from $500 to $5,000 fines.

Tenorio also pointed out that cockfighting is considered an animal sport. “If we stop the cockfights, we will create an atmosphere where people will be doing it illegally in the jungle. This is something that has been done by the elders for many years.”

Saipan Care for Animals was founded in May 2015. “We have an average of 200 visitors every month. They come with questions and we can help educate them. They come to volunteer and some people who bring in abused animals who need help,” said Hudy.

“The number of abuse animals that are brought into the shelter have increased and we have hope that this bill will lower that number and increase the number of adopted pets who go into happy homes.”