Call for New PAWS Board Members

PAWS (Pet Assistance and Welfare Services)


PAWS will be hosting a general meeting, open to the public, on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Shenanigan's in Garapan at 5:30 p.m.. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit volunteers for the organization.

Currently, PAWS is undergoing a change in board members. President Katie Busenkell will be resigning in mid-August because she is moving off-island. Board Member Ron Smith will also be resigning in order to pursue other volunteer commitments. The only board member remaining with the organization will be Bobbi Grizzard, who has acted as Treasurer since 1993 when the organization was first established.

"I'm not leaving the organization or closing its doors," said Bobbi Grizzard. "We'll just have to limp along until new energy shows up on the island."

Volunteers are needed to answer calls to the PAWS hotline (285-PAWS), pick-up and/or advertise unwanted and abandoned animals, and reach out to the public.

If you are interested in volunteering for PAWS, in any capacity, please call 285-PAWS, email Bobbi Grizzard at bobbi.grizzard@gmail.com, or simply come to the meeting at Shenanigan's on July 29, 2010, at 5:30 p.m.

URGENT - Black Cats In Need of Homes

Reposted at the request of PAWS (Pet Assistance and Welfare Services)

Dear Animal Lovers,

A very responsible and compassionate individual took in four kittens a few months ago. She has fed these three little guys and one gal, taken them to the vet for their shots/deworming, and loved them - all while trying to trying to find a good home.

We didn't have any takers.

The foster family is moving to the mainland next week, and we absolutely must find someone to either foster or adopt these kittens.

Unfortunately, if we cannot find a home they will either be turned out to fend for themselves or put to sleep.

Please, if you someone you know would like to adopt one or more of these great kittens, contact Rebecca at 483-3541 or 235-7025.

Details:

3 males and 1 female
Vaccinated
Dewormed
House trained
Friendly
Loving
Beautiful coats (forget what you heard about black cats - they are gorgeous and loving)


You may also call PAWS at 285-PAWS.


Spread the word!!

Thank you!!!

PAWS (Pet Assistance and Welfare Services)

There will be a meeting of the PAWS Board of Directors this evening (Wednesday, February 10) at 6:00 p.m. at Dr. Jack's (on Isa Drive near Sta. Lourdes Road).

All are welcome to attend and participate!

P.A.W.S. Requests Your Help

Your help is needed in distributing REWARD posters around the island.


We are asking all of our members to print at least five (5) copies of the REWARD poster that is available as a download on our website at www.paws-saipan.org. We are asking that you distribute these fliers in your neighborhood and Garapan, where the violent act took place.


Also, a clarification needs to be made regarding the article which appeared in the Saipan Tribune Wednesday, January 27, 2010, about the PAWS reward for information leading to the apprehension of the individual or individuals responsible for the gruesome beheading of a cat in Garapan on or about January 24, 2010.


Since NMI Crime Stoppers has agreed to assist in obtaining information on this terrible act, PAWS has agreed to step aside until such time an apprehension has been made.


The $400 reward PAWS is offering is on top of any award given anonymously by Crime Stoppers, if a call leads to the identification and arrest of the person or persons who committed this act.


Any and all information regarding this act should directed to NMI Crime Stoppers at 234-7272 or https://nmicrimestoppers.com/tippost.asp.

PIC Donates to PAWS & Beautify CNMI!

Pacific Islands Club Saipan designated PAWS & Beautify CNMI! as the recipients for all proceeds from its 2009 PIC Palooza party. The event raised an amazing $5,000 with $2,500 going to P.A.W.S. and $2,500 going to Beautify CNMI!

Beautify CNMI! receives $2,500 from Vicky Benavente
at the 2010 Kickoff meeting at DEQ conference room, January 22, 2010

The use of these funds will be determined in the next Beautify CNMI! meeting, scheduled for February 11, 2010 at 6pm (location TBA). In the past, donations such as these were used for purchasing trash bags, gloves and water for various clean up activities.

THANK YOU PACIFIC ISLANDS CLUB SAIPAN!

PIC Palooza 2009

How does a respectable candidate for Mayor of Saipan dress for a themed fundraiser? Like Devo, that's how!

Pacific Islands Club Saipan put on quite an event last night. I knew it was going to go well when I started getting frantic emails, texts, and phone calls from people trying to buy tickets. The word was spreading that we sold out.

Edz and I decided at the last minute that we were going to go as Devo. I had to buy new black shorts and a t-shirt (only $5 each at Roshi's!), but Edz already had plenty of black clothes to choose from. We made our hats from those things you put underneath a flower pot. We bought four different sizes, cut holes in the middle so are heads would fit and glued them together with crazy glue. A few coats of spray paint and we were ready to bring Devo back!

When PIC decides to throw a party, they go all out. The clubmates and staff who were working the party were all decked out in costumes and when you walked through the door you were given sunglasses and glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets. They said there was going to be food, but they didn't mention that there was going to be a buffet. If the chefs at PIC could teach the rest of the world to grill a pork rib, the world would be a better place. Not only was there a big spread with all types of bite sized goodies, but waiters were walking around with hors d'oeuvres, too.

The entertainment was split between a live band, a DJ, and whatever you want to call what it was the club mates were doing on stage. Last night I kept waking up from a nightmare where Jay was bouncing around in a blonde wig and cheerleading outfit. Please God, don't make me relive that ever again.

There were several contests, drawings, and prizes. Some of the prizes were Beautify CNMI t-shirts that I brought to be handed out, but the prizes also included free brunches, water park passes, hotel stays...even hotel stays in Guam!

As luck would have it, Edz' raffle ticket was the second to last one drawn in the raffle. James Eller's was last. Instead of simply giving out the prizes, they were forced into a video game challenge; whoever got the highest score in a game of Ms. Pacman would win the better prize.

I didn't want to tell James, but Edz has a lot of practice playing Pacman (which is essentially Ms. Pacman without the bow). There is an arcade at Godfather's and she challenges the customers to play her when it is slow or after her shift ends.

The crowd was really into it. This was probably the biggest video game challenge the island of Saipan has ever seen.

But James never really stood a chance, although he put up a valiant effort. Edz took home the championship without hardly even trying.

For second place James received a waterpark pass for two to PIC and Edz took home a one night stay at Pacific Islands Club Guam. There was only one problem: Edz can't go to Guam without a US Visa. Doh!

We traded our gift certificate for one free night on Saipan.

At the end of the night Kieran Daly, General Manager of the Pacific Islands Club, announced they had raised over $2500 for Beautify CNMI! and PAWS...each!!!! I nearly hit the floor when I heard. $2500 is enough money to pay for cleanups for a year. I never expected such a generous donation, especially after all the advertising they did and all the money they spent on staff, food, and drinks.

Thank you, Pacific Islands Club!

More photos are posted at the Beautify CNMI Fan Page on Facebook.

PIC Donates to PAWS

Last Saturday the Pacific Islands Club held a fundraiser for PAWS. They opened up their water park for the low, low price of $10 for one day only and donated all the proceeds to PAWS. The PAWS volunteers heeded the call and showed up in droves.

Today PIC General Manager Keiran Daly handed PAWS a check for $545.

Thank you, Pacific Islands Club! And special thanks to Kanae Quinn and Elly Stoilova of PIC who arranged this generous opportunity for PAWS!

PAWS thanks supporters

PAWS and Beautify CNMI would like to thank all those that attended the dog show this Saturday. It was a great event, which was made possible due to the generous donations and contributions made by the following persons and/or businesses (in alphabetical order):

Angelo Villagomez
Brad Ruszala
Cinta Kaipat
Department of Environmental Quality
Eric and Tania David
Expressions
Fiesta Resort & Spa
George Hasselbeck
Gus Kaipat
Hyatt Regency Saipan
IT & E
Jason Sablan of Price Costco
Jason Tarkong
Jeff Schorr
KikBak
Mike Tripp
Moby Dick's Restaurant
Pacific Islands Club Saipan
Pacific Trading Inc.
Palms Resort
Patricia Garshak
Price Costco
Representative Edward Salas
Retta Sue Hamilton
Ron Smith
Seafix
The Kaipat Kids
Taco Bell & KFC
Trench Tech

And of course, we thank all of our volunteers-you know who you are!

PAWS would also like to thank HANMI for the $2,000 donation made for public outreach purposes. The money will be used to create and run weekly “Pet of the Week” advertisements on KSPN so we can place homeless animals in permanent and foster homes quickly. Thank you HANMI for helping PAWS make Saipan a better place to live and visit!

Katie Busenkell
PAWS President

PAWS WARS

About 40 dogs and 100 humans took part in yesterday's Beautify CNMI/Paws sponsored third annual Best of the Worst Boonie Dog Show, PAWS WARS Episode 3: Revenge of the Boonie.

We had a late start due to an equipment malfunction, but once we got started it was smooth sailing.

We started off by awarding the annual Beautify CNMI Champion and Beautify CNMI Steward awards. Laurie Peterka, Ken Kramer and Tan Holdings were recognized as Champions (our annual advocate award) and the Friends of the Monument were recognized as Stewards (our annual volunteer award).

With that done, I stepped off the stage and let veteran dog show host George Hasselback take over. We had six categories this year: fattest, most misbehaved, most talented, booniest, best star wars costume, and best in show.

At the beginning of each category, all of the competitors were paraded in front of the judges and then brought out one by one for judging. Dogs were scored on a 1-5 scale, with 15 being the highest possible score.

After all the competitors had been judged and scored, the winners for the round were announced and prizes given out. Before starting the next round we gave away a few raffle prizes.

I think the Star Wars category was the most popular. Brad Ruszala, as usual, kicked it up a notch and used his personal Princess Leia costume to dress his dog, Meatball. It was good enough for first place, with Snow White's rendition of Princess Leia actually tying her, but losing to Meatball in the tie-breaker.

This year we had help from some of the fighters from Trench Tech thanks to the involvement of Jason Tarkong and Cuki Alvarez. They upped the cool quotient of the hippie, tree hugger dog show at least 15 percentage points.

We also had tremendous support from the community. I put out a call for $20 donations to pay for prizes and over a dozen people donated, including Jerry Tan, Lydia Tan, Marianne Teregeyo, Marianne and Richard Pierce, Kathy Yuknavage, Susan Macario, Kyle Calabrese, Mike Tripp, Aya Matsumoto, Tyler Yoshimoto, Catie Hiney, Ed Manibusan, Joey San Nicholas, and Lina Dimaano. Pacific Trading, Seafix, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Palms Resort, Moby Dick Restaurant, Expressions, Mike Tripp Productions, Price Costco, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan also donated support and prizes. Representative Ed Salas donated tents. I donated tables and chairs.

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands also used the dog show as an opportunity to donate $2000. The money will be used to help find stray animals permanent homes.

When it comes down to it, the Boonie Dog Show is a perfect example of how the Beautify CNMI spirit works. People pitch in what they can and we come together to do great things.

PAWS Fundraiser at PIC this weekend

In honor of this past weekend’s dog show, PIC is hosting a PAWS Day at the PIC Waterpark this Saturday, June 20, 2009. On this special day, PIC Waterpark passes will be sold at a discounted rate of $10.00, all proceeds will go to PAWS.

“This is a great opportunity for families to spend a day together on the river or splash about in the big pool, all while helping a great non-profit organization,” said PAWS President Katie Busenkell. “Better yet, what a great opportunity for parents to take some time off by dropping the children off at the Waterpark for a long afternoon!”

For more information on this special event, please call PIC at 234-7976 or call PAWS at 285-PAWS.

PAWS WARS a Success

PAWS WARS Episode 3: Revenge of the Boonie was an overwhelming success. We had three animals up for adoption and they were adopted. Dogs won prizes. Spectators were entertained. A good time was had by all.

Barbie wins dog show
MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2009 00:00 BY RAQUEL BAGNOL - VARIETY NEWS STAFF

A FIVE-YEAR old Pomeranian named Barbie is this year’s winner of the Best of the Worst Dog Show at the CPA airport grounds on Saturday.

Barbie’s owner, MC Torregoza, said she also entered her dog in last year’s event.

Second place went to two-month-old Pepa, a Maltese Poodle owned by Alverick Alvarez.

Named the third place winner was Kui, owned by Ken Baer.

The three judges — Brad Ruszala, Cinta Kaipat and PO2 Jason Tarkong chose the winners in each of the six different categories.

This year’s contest drew 26 dog contestants.

PAWS president Kathleen Busenkell said the contest was a success, and they will be organizing another dog show next year.

“We would like to thank our sponsors and supporters who had been helping us come up with this show, but the main thing is we would like to emphasize the importance of taking care of our dogs and other pets,” Busenkell said.

She said they may have to hold the show a little earlier next year as most of the dog owners are off-island.

“We have few repeaters this year, but we have several newcomers, too,” she said.

Some of the dogs in the show were up for adoption, stray dogs that PAWS found and is taking care of.

At the end of the show, two of the dogs found new owners.

The other winners in the dog show:

Fattest

First place: Lucky — Amanda Lorenz

Second place: Missy — Bruce McMillan

Third place: Pepper — Wendy Lorenz

Booniest

First place: Yoda — Andres Buitrago

Second place: Rossi — Kathleen Herman

Third place: Jake — Adam Hardwicke

Most Disobedient

First place: Chloe — Jillian Ferrer

Second place: Jake — Adam Hardwicke

Third place: Charlotte — John Blanco

Most Talented

First place: Dima — Scott Hayden

Second place: Meatball — Kathy Pagapular

Third place: Dirk — Liza Eller

Star Wars Award

First place: Meatball — Brad Ruszala

Second place: Snowhite — Edz Blanco

Third place: Yodu — Andres Buitrago

Sponsors for the show were Seafix, Hyatt Regency Saipan, HANMI, Pacific Trading, Price Costco, Palms Resort Saipan, Fiesta Resort Hotel &Spa, Pacific Islands Club, the Kikbak Band, Gus Kaipat, Trench Tech and Expressions.

Request for Donations

I rarely ask for cash donations. For three years Beautify CNMI has been very successful getting by with good coordination, sharing resources as in-kind contributions, and stretching every dollar we get. For example, the recent island wide cleanup was made possible with a $1500 donation for supplies by MVA and donations for prizes by Marianas Tourism Educational Council and the Kramis family of $1000 and $300 respectively. With that little amount of money and a lot of volunteer hours from the Division of Environmental Quality and other volunteers, we were able to recruit 4,140 volunteers to remove over 27,070 lbs of trash from Saipan's beaches and roads.

Today, however, we are in need of about $300 to pull off our 3rd annual Boonie Dog Show. We're calling it PAWS WARS Episode III: Revenge of the Boonie. This is the annual event where PAWS and Beautify CNMI team up to educate people about the benefits of responsible pet ownership, all while having a good time laughing at the animals we love. And yes, this year we have a Star Wars theme.

I am humbly asking that you donate $20 to PAWS to help us put on the Boonie Dog Show. If you can help, please contact me or Katie Busenkell at busenkell@gmail.com.

The Phantom Boonie

It is that time of year again – when Beautify CNMI! and PAWS team up to celebrate Saipan’s boonie dogs. This year, the dog show, PAWS WARS, Episode III, Revenge of the Boonie, will be held on June 13, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at CPA Airport Field. Categories include:

Star Wars Character
Booniest
Fattest
Most Disobedient
Most Talented; and
Best in Show.

Come down and bring your dog in their best storm trooper or Darth Vader mask. There will be great prizes and loads of fun for the entire family. Registration forms are available here. As we have done in the past, we hope to use the dog show as a method of educating people about the benefits of responsible pet ownership and promote the human-animal bond.

2nd Annual PAWS-Beautify CNMI Boonie Dog Show!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The much anticipated, twice postponed, PAWS and Beautify CNMI! annual dog show is scheduled for June 7, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the CPA Airport Field. The exact location of the show will be at the southern end of the field underneath the Flame Trees.

The dog show was originally scheduled for May 17, 2008, but was postponed when PAWS President Katie Busenkell was invited to attend the United States Humane Society’s Animal Care Expo, a convention on animal care and welfare. “It was an opportunity for networking that we could not pass up,” said Busenkell.

Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the dog show, which is a free event. It is a fun activity for the entire family, including boonie dogs. All dogs entered in the show, or present at the show, must wear a collar and have a leash.

“If your dog has mange, a condition that causes the dog to loose hair, we ask that you not enroll your pet in the show,” said PAWS Vice President Melissa Simms. “Instead, we urge you to take your pet to a veterinarian for treatment.”

For those dogs that are able to attend the show, owners may enter their dog(s) to win prizes in the following categories: (1) The Fattest; (2) The Most Disobedient; (3) The Best Belly Dragger (for smaller breeds); (4) The Best Geriatric (for those older dogs); (5) The Most Like a Movie Star; and (6) The Booniest. A prize will also be awarded to the dog that wins the title, “The Best of the Worst,” otherwise known as the best of show.

Prizes include Frontline for fleas and ticks, flea and tick shampoo and dip, dog toys, dog food, and a dog bed, just to name a few of the items that have been generously donated by Costco and/or purchased with funds donated by Beautify CNMI!, Angil Designs, Inc., and the PEW Charitable Trust. “And, if you have a cat, or many, you are invited to enter our $1.00 raffle for cat-care items,” said Simms.

Registration is free and pre-registration is strongly encouraged due to an expected high turnout. When asked if she was excited about the dog show, Bernie Dela Cruz said, “Yes! Because I love dogs. I love animals.”

Forms can be downloaded at www.paws-saipan.org and emailed to Katie at busenkell@gmail.com. If you have questions about the dog show, call the PAWS PTI hotline for more information at 285-PAWS.

Boonie Dog Pet Show!

This is kind of old, but I hadn't seen it until today:

Reaching out to the kids

Last week I helped PAWS and the Animal Welfare Committee by giving two presentations on pet care to elementary school kids.

The kids in this picture are from Mr. David Steinberg's 4th grade class at Saipan International School. We showed the kids a short video on dogs and then we had them to a couple of worksheets.

It was pretty basic stuff, like don't pull a dog's tail and don't bother a dog that is eating or tied up. The kids seemed to enjoy it.

I saw some of the kids from the classrooms at the Pet Show on Saturday. We'll change this island one kid at a time if we have too!

Beautify CNMI! & PAWS Team Up To Promote Responsible Pet Ownership

Beautify CNMI! and PAWS team up to promote responsible pet ownership, work on getting the Anti-Cruelty Legislation passed, rid the CNMI of its stray animals problems, and find an effective solution to the roadkill problems in the Commonwealth. Katie Busenkell chairs Beautify CNMI's Animal Welfare Committee.Representative Cinta Kaipat gave the keynote address at the PAWS General Membership Luncheon