There is a realistic solution to the systemic stray animal problem in Guam.
Guam Animals In Need (GAIN) collaborated with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) to provide free training in animal control to Guam professionals.
There are three components that address a stray population: sterilization, education, and enforcement. The new sterilization program has been an amazing success. Villagers can go to their mayor’s office and pick up a coupon that offers sterilization for free if the villager is on any type of government assistance and twenty five dollars for all other residents. GAIN volunteers have been working on educating our island youth and feedback from the kids has been fabulous.
Because GAIN’s education and sterilization programs have been so successful, WSPA is subsidizing the entire cost of improving our enforcement. RSPCA will evaluate our island’s current procedures regarding animal control. Then they will recommend standard operating procedures that will flow with our government and non-government organizations. Finally they will provide training for the individuals tasked with carrying out enforcement. RSPCA will provide training to members of the Guam Police Department, the Department of Agriculture Animal Control Personnel, Mayors, and GAIN employees/volunteers at no cost to taxpayers.
This is a perfect example of a non-governmental organization working with a government organization to improve our productivity without adding to the budget.
