The Challenge of Rescuing Dogs on the Island of Saipan By Reuters

Like many other dogs and cats, Pumpkin was living on the streets of Saipan, a tropical Pacific island, before arriving at the Mayor’s Dog Control Shelter. Unfortunately, she was deemed too traumatized for adoption and was placed on a euthanasia list.

Fortunately, Pumpkin’s story took a positive turn when Lauren Cabrera, the animal health officer at the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the Northern Mariana Islands, chose to adopt her. Lauren welcomed Pumpkin into her home, where she lives with her husband and children.

Sadly, many dogs in Saipan do not share Pumpkin’s fortune. The island has about 42,000 human residents and over 21,000 stray dogs, leading to a situation where these animals often roam the streets with little hope of being adopted. The Mayor’s Dog Control Shelter reports that it is forced to euthanize between 20 and 40 dogs and cats every Friday, many of which are healthy.

“I used to get frustrated about euthanasia when I first moved here,” said Cabrera, who has lived in Saipan since 2012 and hails from New Hampshire. “I wondered why shelters couldn’t simply save them or keep them until they found homes. The harsh reality is that the adoption rate is very low, hovering around 1 or 2% on Saipan. With so many stray dogs, what options are there?”

The feral dogs on the island, often called “boonie dogs,” are primarily descended from canines brought to Saipan by U.S. troops during World War II. For those living outside this remote U.S. territory, adopting these animals poses numerous logistical challenges and expenses.

To tackle this issue, Cabrera co-founded the Boonie Flight Project, a volunteer-based rescue initiative that has helped transport 618 dogs from Guam and Saipan to adopters and rescues in the continental United States.

“After a euthanasia day, I often feel emotionally drained,” Cabrera reflected. “It’s difficult to witness so many animals lose their lives. I try to redirect my energy toward saving as many as I can in the following week.”