If you've been to the beautiful island of Guam, you’ll know immediately we have an ugly problem: stray cat/dog overpopulation. These innocent animals suffer every day.

If you want to be part of the change please donate through our PayPal or GoFundme and not directly to Change.org. 

According to Humane Society International’s 2014 evaluation, there are about 60,000 stray dogs. In the six years since then, the numbers are likely higher. There just simply aren’t enough homes. Shipping one dog to the states starts at $2,000 and can go as high as $9,000, so getting animals off-island is not affordable either.

Our one animal shelter is always at maximum capacity with extremely limited resources. During the pandemic, they shut down completely. Our 10 (or less) island veterinarians are booked months out for spays and neuters. The numbers keep multiplying and with it, the pain.

Solutions are few: in a 2019 meeting among Guam village mayors, some mayors suggested “allowing local hunters to kill stray dogs” (Gilbert, 2019) and other solutions are euthanizing strays brought in (GAIN, 2018). Animal cruelty is common here, including residents deliberately running over dogs, hammering dogs to death (Gilbert, 2020), drowning dogs alive (PNC, 2020), and many residents have witnessed this type of cruelty (Schafer and Farnworth, 2019). It is heartbreaking for both humans and animals.

We need a real solution for our boonies.

An animal sanctuary.

A place where friendly strays who have lived their entire lives on the streets, survived car accidents, abuse, neglect, and the intense elements of Guam can spend the rest of their years in peace and safety.

Animals accepted at the sanctuary would be fully vetted medically and socially prior to being released on the property. Families would be able to visit to learn about animal welfare, needs, receive services (such as low-cost medications and/or veterinary care), and resources. Volunteer and educational opportunities will be available.

Your island’s animal sanctuary would also be a place where everyone can learn the importance of preventative care, compassion, and receive educational tools to help our next generation build a better future for Guahan. Together, we can accomplish this.

Have a HEART for the animals of Guam.

Your signature will show support for this endeavor.

Donations are humbly and gladly accepted.

HEART is a 501(3) non-profit so your donations are tax-deductible. Receipts are always available upon request. Please note “sanctuary” for your donations to HEART at Paypal.me/sterlingcorbin or via www.gofund.me/6c97172d

We are also looking for local artists to donate one or more drawings of a Guahan medicinal, edible, or endemic plant/animal species. Your drawings will then be used to create a coloring book of the animals/plants of Guahan sold at local stores, to contribute financially towards the sanctuary.

With your support we can make this a reality. Thank you for having a HEART.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
Follow our rescue efforts at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartRescueGuam

Instagram: @HeartGuam

Website: Www.HeartGuam.com

Send us an email at Sterling@HeartGuam.com if you are interested in donating a drawing or more information.

Si Yu'us Ma'åse for taking the time to read and share our efforts for this beautiful island and its animals.

 

Sources:Gilbert, Haidee Eugenio. “Frustration over Stray Dogs: Mayors Look to Licensing Bids, Allow Hunting, Round Up.” Pacific Daily News, Pacific Daily News, 13 Sept. 2019, www.guampdn.com/story/news/2019/09/11/guam-stray-dogs-populationg-mayors-bidding-hunting-euthanizing/2272113001/
Gilbert, Haidee Eugenio. “'We Need to Heal the Pain': Clarity, Enforcement, Funding Sought in Animal Welfare Bills.” Pacific Daily News, Pacific Daily News, 11 Feb. 2020, www.guampdn.com/story/news/2020/02/11/clarity-enforcement-funding-sought-anti-animal-cruelty-bills/4719702002/
PNC, (Pacific News Center). “Dog Tied to Rock, Thrown off Bridge to Drown; $2000 Reward for Killer.” PNC News First, Pacific News Center, 21 Sept. 2020, www.pncguam.com/dog-tied-to-rock-thrown-off-bridge-to-drown/
Schafer, Nicole P., and Mark Farnworth. “Residents’ Management of, and Attitudes Towards, the Dog Population on Two Mariana Islands.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, vol. 23, no. 2, 2019, pp. 140–155., doi:10.1080/10888705.2019.1594230.