In the wake of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Saipan Humane Society, Humane World for Animals (formerly called the Humane Society of the United States), and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) have provided over 2,000 veterinary and supply distribution services, helping at least 1,100 impacted animals through collective response efforts.
Disaster responders from Humane World for Animals — at the request of Saipan Humane Society — and the ASPCA — at the request of the Guam Department of Agriculture and in partnership with the National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition — deployed to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Together with Saipan Humane Society, the organizations responded to the urgent needs of animals and their caretakers after Super Typhoon Sinlaku devastated the region, causing widespread power outages, water and gasoline supply disruptions, and effectively cutting off access to veterinary care and essential resources like pet food.
With no full-time veterinarian in Saipan, the community relies on Saipan Humane Society to play a critical role in providing services by facilitating visiting veterinarians or transporting animals to Guam for procedures.
“Typhoon Sinlaku has left a devastating impact on our community and the animals who depend on us. What we are witnessing is not only loss, but the undeniable reality that animal welfare is inseparable from disaster response. Animals are part of our families, and their survival is directly tied to our community’s recovery,” said Amber Weston, executive director of Saipan Humane Society, as the response was unfolding. “Saipan Humane Society is working on the ground to support and coordinate animal welfare efforts, ensuring animals are not overlooked or left behind. In collaboration with the National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition and with the support of Humane World for Animals, we are responding with the urgency and coordination this moment demands. Right now, the need is critical. Animals are displaced, injured, and without access to basic necessities, while families are doing everything they can to keep and care for them in the midst of crisis. This is a defining moment for our islands. We are not only responding to immediate suffering, but we are also helping to set a new standard for how we protect the most vulnerable moving forward. Continued support will directly determine how many lives we are able to save.”
Humane World for Animals deployed responders and several veterinarians to Saipan to assist Saipan Humane Society with setting up and operating a temporary veterinary clinic, treating animals from over 450 households. Wounded animals required treatment including stitches, limb and tail amputations and eye removal surgeries. Other animals needed care for heat strokes, emergency dental surgery, parasite treatment, vaccinations and emergency spay or neuter services.
“We’ve seen time after time that the well-being of people is closely intertwined with the well-being of their pets, making collaborative, multi-pronged partnerships essential to help communities recover from disasters like Typhoon Sinlaku,” said Aimee Lauer, global animal disaster managing director, Humane World for Animals. “It was an honor to support Saipan Humane Society’s essential work in the community, together providing veterinary services to hundreds of animals.”
The ASPCA’s disaster response team worked alongside local agencies to deliver essential care and supplies for displaced animals—including pet food, water and veterinary preventatives—and supported at-risk animals with medical needs in the field. FedEx is also assisting the ASPCA by providing in-kind shipping of pet food donated by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Open Farm to support pet supply distribution efforts in the region.
“The work of local and national animal welfare groups in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands highlights the power of collaboration during crisis. In Saipan, where veterinary care is limited and many community animals live alongside pets, coordinated partnerships are essential to provide critical aid and resources for recovery,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA National Field & Disaster Response. “We remain committed to supporting both at-risk animals in the region, as well as the people who care for them.”
With disaster response teams from the ASPCA and Humane World for Animals demobilizing, Saipan Humane Society and Saipan Cares for Animals continue to support recovery efforts by providing ongoing veterinary care, expanding access to spay and neuter services, and distributing critical supplies. In a region without consistent veterinary infrastructure, sustained support is essential to continue bringing in veterinary teams and to build more resilient, sustainable systems for animal care across the CNMI.
The ASPCA will continue to work with local groups to provide pet food and supplies for impacted communities and remains committed to assisting both the people and pets of Saipan and neighboring islands as recovery efforts persist. Humane World for Animals will continue to support Saipan Humane Society through early recovery, addressing needs to help restore pre-disaster capacity.
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Humane World for Animals: Photos and b-roll (Credit: Humane World for Animals)