SCA clinics stretched thin as Sinlaku leaves pets injured, traumatized

Saipan Cares for Animals has been working around the clock in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, with volunteers on both Saipan and Tinian responding to a surge in sick, injured, and traumatized pets while also dealing with damage to their own homes and vehicles.

SCA board secretary Miho K. Evangelista said the nonprofit decided to reopen its Saipan clinic once volunteers became available because of the overwhelming number of calls for help.

“On Saipan, we have been receiving so many inquiries about sick or injured or skin issue on their pets so we decided to open the clinic once volunteers are available,” Evangelista said.

However, she said operations have been difficult because many volunteers were also impacted by the storm.

“But we couldn't open everyday because our volunteers’ houses and vehicles were damaged also,” she said, adding that the Saipan clinic is now “so busy everyday.”

On Tinian, Evangelista said the clinic resumed operations immediately after the storm because many pets were either injured or ill.

The organization itself also sustained heavy damage.

“After Typhoon Sinlaku passed, we've been without power ever since the typhoon, and our biggest challenge has been figuring out how to regulate the temperature of the medicines we currently have,” Evangelista said.

She said community members stepped in to help preserve medications by storing them in refrigerators powered by generators.

The Saipan clinic also suffered flooding inside the facility.

“And the clinic floor was almost all wet and it was so hard to clean by only a few staff,” she said.

On Tinian, a tent being used as an emergency room for large dogs was destroyed despite preparations before the storm.

“We were using a tent as the big dog's ER but the tent, tables,and chairs are all collapsed and destroyed even though secured and tied strongly before typhoon,” Evangelista said. “We need to rebuild it because the patients come to the clinic almost everyday.”

Despite the hardships, SCA volunteers have continued reporting for duty daily.

“Our tireless volunteers are working so hard to open the clinic everyday to help the community even though their houses are damaged,” Evangelista said.

She said Tinian staff members have been answering calls and messages nearly 24 hours a day while struggling to keep their phones charged because of the lack of electricity.

According to Evangelista, Tinian staff members also personally donated about 400 lbs of pet food for distribution to residents.

She said animals became especially vulnerable during Sinlakubecause many residents did not anticipate the strength and duration of the typhoon.

“Because the people wasn't expecting that kind of huge, strong and long typhoon, a lot of people just tied dogs outside,” she said. “I sadly heard so many dogs died with hanging, hit to debris or drown when flooded.”

Evangelista said many surviving pets have shown signs of trauma and illness after the storm.

“It looked like so many pets were traumatized and had lots of stress, got eye or ear infections from mold, fungus, and yeast,” she said.

She added that many pet owners struggled to obtain necessities because of damaged vehicles, limited supplies, and the high cost of pet food and cat litter.

SCA currently offers deworming, flea and tick prevention, pet supplies, consultations for sick or injured animals, and online veterinary guidance for emergencies.

The Saipan clinic is open daily from 1:30pm to 4pm.

Meanwhile, the Tinian clinic still does not have electricity and is operating on an appointment basis. Evangelista said SCA Tinian collaborated with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Saipan Humane Society for pet food distributions after the storm.

“A lot of dogs lost their dog houses,” she said. “Cat owners are having very hard time to get cat litters. We currently can't find litters on Tinian.”

Evangelista thanked supporters, donors, organizations, and volunteers for assisting SCA and pet owners after the disaster.

“We would like to extend our appreciation for all of the people, organizations, companies who gave us support or donations even from off-islands after Typhoon Sinlaku,” she said. “And we can't say thank you enough for our tireless volunteers.”