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Saipan Humane Society thanks delegation for continued funding, cites thousands of services
Summary
The director of the Saipan Humane Society thanked the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for prior funding and described thousands of low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations and veterinary visits; the organization requested continued support to expand services into underserved areas.
Guadalupe Ato, director of the Saipan Humane Society, told the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation that past local appropriations have allowed the nonprofit to expand low-cost veterinary services across Saipan.
"Because of your past support, we have provided affordable and accessible veterinary care to the people of Saipan," Ato said. She credited the delegation's funding with enabling more than 800 low-cost spay/neuter procedures, over 2,000 vaccinations and care for about 6,000 patients, and asked for continued support to reach underserved neighborhoods.
Ato said the services reduce stray-animal overpopulation and address public-health risks by preventing and limiting zoonotic diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis. She also argued that preventing animal-related incidents lowers costs for animal-control services and benefits tourism.
The speaker asked the delegation to continue appropriations that would allow the Saipan Humane Society to expand mobile or outreach clinics, increase vaccination coverage and sustain emergency care capacity.
No formal action or vote on new funding was recorded in the public-comments portion of the session. The society's request was presented during the delegation's general public-comment period.
