Pacific / Northern Marianas

Huge number of stray dogs in CNMI a nuisance

08:14 am on 23 June 2016

A study by an animal rights advocate reveals that 95 percent of dogs in the CNMI are strays.

Nicole Schafer says stray dogs have become a nuisance in several communities as they tear up and scatter trash, defecate everywhere, spread diseases, cause traffic accidents, and scare off tourists.

She says CNMI's neighbouring island Guam has a similar problem with little over 93% of dogs considered strays.

She says it's imperative communities control their stray dog populations as one stray male or female dog alone can produce at least five hundred puppies a year.

Ms Schafer says dogs can be controlled through spaying and neutering, catching them, putting them in an animal shelter or holding free adoptions.

She is supporting a bill in the House of Representatives which proposes fines for animal abuse.

Last year's study by the Animal Legal Defence Fund showed the CNMI is at the bottom of the list of U.S. states and territories when it comes to animal protection laws.