Mayor’s office looking for new site for animal shelter

The Saipan Mayor’s Office is on the lookout for a location where the new animal shelter would be built. The animal shelter in Lower Base was severely damaged by Typhoon Soudelor and was already condemned by the Department of Public Works-Building Safety Code Division.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang said DPW informed him that the building sustained structural damage and repair and other forms of restoration will no longer be needed. Special assistant to the Saipan Mayor Henry Hofschneider, in an interview with Saipan Tribune early this year, said it is most likely they would have to build a new animal shelter.

The animal shelter’s tin roof, windows, and parts of the walls were all torn apart like paper when Typhoon Soudelor ripped through Saipan in August last year.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and DPW has also identified the site in Lower Base, the location of the old animal shelter, as a flood-prone area. Apatang said they had already received federal grants from FEMA.

“We already have the money that was supposed to be used for renovation. But since DPW told us that it would no longer need fixing and FEMA identifying the place as a flood zone area, we’re seeking permission and approval from FEMA to use the money to build a new facility,” said Apatang.

He added that they had already asked the help of Vicky Villagomez, the Capital Improvement Projects special assistant for budget and management, in seeking FEMA’s approval that they use the money intended for repairs to building a new facility.

He said that they have been closely coordinating with the office of Department of Public Lands Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo in locating new public land where the animal shelter would be located.

“We are working to secure another land, one that is far from the community where the noise of the animals won’t affect the lives and bother the neighbors. We all thought we could repair the facility at Lower Base but since FEMA and DPW identified the area as flood prone, we asked DPL’s help in locating a new land,” said Apatang.

“This would be one of our top priorities. Hopefully, we could get an answer and work something out by the end of the month.”

Apatang said he is also thankful for the immediate response of Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Richard B. Seman once they formally close the animal shelter. “Secretary Seman is also helping us by letting us to temporarily use their quarantine facility in As Perdido.”