A pack of stray dogs wander about Tagachang Beach park on Sept. 13, 2019.
An unleashed dog takes a morning stroll through a residential street in Dededo as two other strays opt to rest on a warming pavement on Sept. 13, 2024.
An uncollared dog plays with a lizard as another canine looks on within a housing development in Dededo in this Sept. 11, 2019 file photo.
A pack of stray dogs wander about Tagachang Beach park on Sept. 13, 2019.
An unleashed dog takes a morning stroll through a residential street in Dededo as two other strays opt to rest on a warming pavement on Sept. 13, 2024.
An uncollared dog plays with a lizard as another canine looks on within a housing development in Dededo in this Sept. 11, 2019 file photo.
While both Guam and Saipan face an overpopulation of free-roaming dogs, the former’s strays are more frequently reported as aggressive and pose a greater public safety concern, according to the Guam Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Division territorial veterinarian.
“Packs of free-roaming dogs are known to chase children on their way to and from school, antagonize walkers and cyclists, and attack and kill owned pets, including dogs and cats. In contrast, while Saipan also has high numbers of free-roaming dogs, they are less frequently reported as aggressive toward people,” said Dr. Mariana Turner.
Turner recently visited Saipan, where she conducted a two-day euthanasia technicians’ training.
The territorial veterinarian said while both islands’ free-roaming dog are relatively the same—Saipan has 21,000 free-roaming dogs (2018 estimate) to Guam’s 24,5000 free-roaming dogs (2014 estimate)—Saipan actually has a much higher stray-to-human ratio.
Asked what has made Guam’s free-roaming dog population more aggressive, Turner said food availability is one major factor.
“Many free-roaming dogs are regularly fed by community members, businesses, and even well-meaning rescue groups. Unlike truly feral dogs, which must scavenge to survive, these dogs have a reliable food source, making them stronger, healthier, more territorial, and reproduce at a higher rate,” Turner said. “This isn’t to say that feeding is inherently bad, as many people provide food out of compassion.”
Turner said these human actions aren’t inherently bad. However, without concurrent sterilization and responsible pet ownership practices, feeding alone unintentionally fuels the issue by allowing populations to thrive.
“The key difference is while Saipan faces an overpopulation problem, Guam’s free-roaming dog situation presents a greater safety risk due to aggressive packs that are regularly fed, making them more robust and territorial,” she said.
Turner’s office completed a dog and cat population survey in February 2025, in collaboration with Humane World for Animals, formerly Humane Society International.
An initial analysis found several contributing factors that fuel an increase in Guam’s free-roaming dogs.
1. High numbers of unsterilized free roaming animals: With a high percentage of intact (unsterilized) dogs and cats on the island, the population continues to grow.
The combination of uncontrolled breeding and low sterilization rates means that even a small number of unsterilized animals can quickly lead to exponential population growth.
2. The termination of United Airlines’ PetSafe Program: The suspension of United Airlines’ PetSafe program has severely impacted pet relocation options for both local residents and military service members.
Previously, United was the primary airline facilitating affordable pet transport off-island. Now, with limited and often exorbitantly expensive alternatives, many pet owners find themselves unable to take their animals with them when they leave.
As a result, many pets are surrendered or abandoned, further increasing the free-roaming population.
3. Cultural norms of allowing dogs to roam freely: In the island community, it is common practice for owned dogs to be allowed to roam.
With a high percentage of intact (unsterilized) free roaming dogs, this increases the chances of unplanned litter, as roaming dogs freely mate and contribute to the expanding population.
“While we await the official survey results, it is clear that addressing the free-roaming animal population will require a combination of enforcement, information sharing, and accessible spay/neuter programs,” Turner said.
The challenges posed by abandoned pets due to relocation difficulties also highlight the need for better pet transportation solutions, she added.
To mitigate Guam’s free-roaming animal population, she said they have initiated several ongoing initiatives aimed to address the free-roaming animal population in Guam:
Spay/neuter initiatives: The SNIP Clinic has been a key program in reducing the number of unsterilized animals. Since its launch on Feb. 14, 2022, SNIP has sterilized over 7,000 dogs and cats. This program provides low-cost sterilization services to the community, preventing thousands of unwanted litters.
Enforcement and training: Guam animal control officers continue to enforce leash laws and impound free-roaming animals to help control the population.
Early this month, Guam Agriculture’s Animal Health Division hosted specialized training sessions in partnership with Humane World for animals, focusing on animal cruelty investigations and animal handling best practices.
Collaboration and sustainable solutions: The Dog Population Management Task Force was recently formed to engage multiple stakeholders in tackling the free-roaming dog crisis.
Public education and outreach: Community education is critical to shifting cultural attitudes about responsible pet ownership, sterilization, and the risks of allowing dogs to roam freely.
Awareness campaigns and partnerships with local organizations help promote adoptions, responsible pet care and the importance of spay/neuter.
Guam’s Animal Health Division holds Responsible Pet Ownership events within the community to provide low-cost microchips, rabies vaccinations and facility pet license registration.
Mark Rabago is a freelance journalist based in the CNMI.
Mark Rabago is a freelance journalist based in the CNMI.
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Sadly as one who has adopted many cats and dogs over the years, I must say a culling is the only thing that may help at this point…over twenty years ago the problem was bad, but it’s worse even with GAIN’s Snip Clinic… the problem is still people… not being responsible pet owners… just chaining them up and throwing chicken bones at them…if anyone believes these types of dog owners are going to contribute to the communities that suffer from attacks, communicable diseases.. news flash , they won’t. They tie them up in extremely hot weather or rain, they don’t give them preventative flea/tick medication (Don’t bother with that “Red Medicine”) you’re better off spending a bit more on meds that work… they don’t get them vaccinated against rabies, they own more animals then you’re allowed to own by law… maybe start enforcing the laws that Guam already has in place and it will deter irresponsible humans from being horrible pet owners.
Culling the population is a valid resolution. It is necessary for public safety to be aggressively preemptive at this point. What are we waiting for? A child to be mauled to pay the price for action? A single threat of rabies to ignite an outbreak disaster? a pack of feral dogs wiped out my mother’s brood of chickens. there was no compensation from either the government or activist groups. they both claim jurisdiction over these animals, but claim no accountability when it causes direct harm or damage.
Agreed. Culling is the only affordable, effective, rapid solution. Govgu as usual, will only take action, when someone dies from dog attacks. OOG.
I believe that, unfortunately, the only way to resolve this problem is a massive culling project.
Culling the population is a valid resolution. It is necessary for public safety to be aggressively preemptive at this point. What are we waiting for? A child to be mauled to pay the price for action? A single threat of rabies to ignite an outbreak disaster? a pack of feral dogs wiped out my mother’s brood of chickens. there was no compensation from either the government or the activists. they both claim jurisdiction over these animals, but claim no accountability when it causes direct harm or damage.
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