Beautification Task Force update on stray animals, Hagåtña pool, and abandoned vehicles

Since 2022, about 14,300 stray animals have been rounded up throughout the island. Of those, only 1,745 were adopted and more than 12,200 were euthanized, according to Lt. Gov. Joshua F. Tenorio. Stray animals and next week’s groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Hagåtña pool were among the issues discussed at the Islandwide Beautification Task Force.

“I think that's a very important data point that I wanted to (highlight). If you're talking about the effectiveness of your program, there's obviously some big numbers … it reminds us that unfortunately we have a very, very high euthanasian rate but we have a very high stray population,” said Tenorio, who is task force chair. “On the other side of it … you had 8,000 animals were spayed or neutered.”
He added that he had read that the issue of stray animals on Guam was noted even before World War II. “It’s been an issue for decades,” he said.

Dr. Mariana Turner, Guam’s territorial veterinarian, thanked the lieutenant governor for sharing the numbers and highlighting what has been accomplished and the work that still needs to be done.
She said the nonprofit organization Humane World had sent representatives to Guam and they saw how much work had been done locally to reduce the stray animal population and ensure animals aren’t suffering.

“International groups are actually recognizing the amount of spay and neuters we've been able to do in a short time, so this is actually a pretty big deal,” Turner said.

Dog for adoption. Photo courtesy of Guam Animals in Need.

But solving Guam’s stray animal population—which officials have raised as a health and safety issue for residents and visitors alike—requires what’s called a “trap, neuter and return” program. She noted that if animals are determined to be unhealthy or too aggressive, they will not be returned to the location where they were found, but instead will have to be euthanized.

“The majority of what’s going to happen is euthanasia because a lot of these animals are not adoptable whether because of medical conditions or because they are kind of more feral dogs that aren’t able to go into a home,” Turner said.

The other part of the solution is for pet owners to get their animals spayed or neutered so they don’t add to the problem. Turner said they’re organizing a community SNIP clinic scheduled for August and are in need of volunteers. Several mayors have already reached out to say they’d like to host the clinic, so she and her team will be meeting with mayors and looking at suggested venues. For more information on volunteering, call 671-653-4246.

Vince Arriola, director of the Department of Public Works, said the procurement process for the refurbishment and renovation of the Hagåtña pool has been finalized. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. June 27.

The pool was first opened in 1968 as part of an effort to create centers of activity throughout the island. For more than 50 years, it has served as a location for many swim competitions, water aerobics classes, swimming classes, polo matches, diving instruction and more.

The pool had water leaks and other issues over the last decade or so, leading to the pool’s intermittent use. In 2020, it was closed permanently because leaking pipes and broken pumps didn’t allow for the water filtration system to clean and cycle the water. People using the pool complained of algae, and water quality test results showed the presence of fecal bacteria.

On Nov. 22, 2023, the Office of the Governor issued a joint release with DPW announcing that the design for the new Hagåtña Swimming Pool Facility was 60% complete. See story “Construction update: surprise, surprise for contractors.”

Conceptual design for Hagåtña pool. Photo courtesy Guampedia/Guam Economic Development Authority.

A new Olympic-sized swimming pool fitted with new bleachers, starter blocks and timers, as well as a new locker room and restroom facility and a new children’s pool are part of the specs, according to a December 2024 interagency grant agreement between the Department of Administration and the Department of Parks and Recreation. The agreement indicated a $6.29 million funding level as cleared by the Bureau of Budget and Management Research.

“It’s going to be a huge project, not just for the village of Hagåtña but certainly for the island,” Arriola said, adding that the renovation is “a long time coming” and once completed “is really going to make us proud.”

Arriola also reported that DPW has collected more than 150 abandoned vehicles. “The problem is they’re sitting in our compound … we’re still working on a staging site to place the vehicles,” he said.

He said they’re looking at higher fines and penalties in hopes of dissuading people from leaving their vehicles on the side of the road.

“There’s a huge cost to this. It takes a minimum of four people to collect the vehicles … We are working on increasing penalties, to include fines, community service and perhaps hard labor because individuals need to know that this is a very costly issue and it’s not good for the island, it’s not good for Public Works and it’s not good for everybody.”

1969 Annual Report-Guam to the Secretary of the Interior, Chapter on Department of Recreations, page 1. Courtesy of Guampedia

1969 Annual Report-Guam to the Secretary of the Interior, Department of Recreations chapter, page 2. Courtesy of Guampedia

Sabrina Cruz Sablan, of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, said in FY 2024 they collected 883 abandoned vehicles, 1,287 white goods, 2,542 tires, 1,332 pieces of electronics, 886 cubic yards of green waste and 229 cubic yards of mixed metals. This cost the government $1.31 million, she said.

During the meeting, Christine Fejeran, Department of Agriculture Forestry and Soil Resources Division chief, said they too are looking for volunteers for a June 28 tree-planting project at the As Gadao reforestation site in Malesso. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. There are stipends available for tree planting and for maintenance of the area. For more information, call the division at 671-300-7977. mbj

Beautification Task Force update on stray animals, Hagåtña pool, and abandoned vehicles