Paws, Policy, and Progress
Our pets are really part of our families, but we all know that services for our fur babies can be a real challenge in the Marianas. That’s why I was so happy to meet with two individuals who are doing incredible work to improve animal care services in our region: Lauren Cabrera of the Saipan Humane Society and Dr. Mariana Turner, Guam's territorial veterinarian who is also serving as the CNMI interim territorial veterinarian. Dr. Turner oversees Guam's rabies-free program and has been working with Lauren, in her role as DLNR's Animal Health Manager, to develop a similar model for the CNMI. We discussed the steps needed for the CNMI to be recognized by Guam as a rabies-free jurisdiction—a designation that would ease pet travel between the islands and benefit residents of both Guam and the CNMI. We also explored how my office can support the Humane Society's efforts to improve care and access for pets and livestock across the Commonwealth. I'm grateful to Lauren and Dr. Turner for their time and collaboration, and I wish Lauren all the best as she heads off island this summer to begin veterinary school.