Rep. Camacho: Animal welfare, shelter management has not been a priority at the mayoral level

Rep. Joel Camacho, a 2026 mayoral candidate, responded after the Saipan Mayor’s Office removed crates from the Saipan Humane Society amid a spay and neuter clinic this week.

“Right now, from the way I see it, the issue here on Saipan is that animal welfare and shelter management has not been a priority at the mayoral level,” Camacho said. “When leadership does not prioritize support for staffing or training and the basic standards, the system breaks down, and that's exactly what we are seeing in this situation now.”

Camacho, who has served in the Legislature for eight years, emphasized partnerships with non-profits.

“If I were the mayor, my administration would prioritize the necessary funding and training for personnel, but most importantly, I would work very closely and build strong partnerships with the NGOs like the Saipan Humane Society,” he said.

Camacho also thanked Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, Saipan Cares for Animals, and all the volunteers for their efforts in assisting to get the care those animals need.

“I have been in office for 8 years now, I am confident I have the ability to lobby in Congress and work with all the agencies as I am currently doing now to address the needs of our small community. I am level headed and I know the success to building our community back up requires working well with everyone as one people. Now more than ever we need to be this way.”

The dispute unfolded last March 18 when MOS staff removed crates during a fully booked spay and neuter clinic. Residents quickly responded, lending or building 43 crates to allow the clinic to continue on Wednesday.

SHS clinic director Ruby Ma said the crates are vital for animal care. “We remain committed to continuing our services and are actively working on solutions. However, we want to highlight the importance of proper equipment in delivering safe, humane, and effective veterinary care,” she told Marianas Press.

Amber Weston, SHS executive director, added that coordination and shared resources are key. “We believe strongly that lasting progress comes from working together with purpose, respect, and accountability,” she said.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, whose outreach team transported crates to SHS, criticized the SMO action.

“This action is both extreme and counterproductive, because it disrupts life-saving veterinary work, undermines inter-agency cooperation, and sends the wrong message about our collective commitment to animal welfare,” Torres said.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office told Marianas Press the crates were recalled for inspection.

“The MOS (Mayor of Saipan) chief of staff is conducting an inspection on Dog Control Program Operations, including the equipment used to capture dogs. The crates were recalled to DCP so we can inspect their condition and ensure they are safe and fully operational as part of the wider inspection,” the statement read.