SAIPAN — The Saipan Humane Society issued a public statement Thursday calling for coordinated partnerships and shared accountability in animal welfare efforts, one day after the Mayor’s Office removed loaned cages from an active spay and neuter clinic mid-operation.
The clinic, which brought visiting veterinarians and volunteers from off-island to perform procedures and care for animals, had been using cages loaned by the Mayor’s Office Dog Control Program for pre- and post-operation housing. Mid-afternoon Tuesday, Mayor’s Office staff arrived and removed the equipment. Chief of Staff Rita Chong said she was unaware the clinic was underway at the time and made the decision based on an allegation that the cages were in poor condition.
The removal forced the Saipan Humane Society to scramble for a solution while the clinic was still in operation. The organization turned to social media and the community responded, donating 43 cages on a temporary basis to allow the clinic to continue through Friday.
The Saipan Humane Society’s statement did not name the Mayor’s Office directly but made clear the disruption had real consequences for the animals and residents the clinic was serving.
“Our ability to serve depends on consistent coordination, shared resources, and a collective commitment to the greater good,” Executive Director Amber Weston said. “When these efforts are disrupted, it limits the number of animals we can help and affects the broader community that relies on these essential services.”
The incident follows the death of a kitten at the Mayor’s dog control shelter last weekend, which the Saipan Humane Society and other advocates highlighted earlier this week as evidence of systemic gaps in how the CNMI manages stray animals. That story was reported separately by NMI News Service.
Weston said the organization remains committed to collaboration and to building partnerships that prioritize community needs and animal welfare.
“When we work together, our entire community benefits,” she said.
