KOROR, Palau — The Koror Animal Shelter in Ngemelachl is grappling with a severe shortage in veterinary services due to a lack of a licensed veterinarian. Despite registering approximately 374 dogs last year, the shelter has been unable to provide essential medical care for over a year, impacting its ability to serve both animals and the community.
Coordinator Obak Sato explained that, while the shelter can still perform basic services like deworming and tick and flea treatments using medicated shampoo, complex procedures such as spaying, neutering, and emergency medical treatments have been put on hold. The absence of a licensed vet has also limited access to controlled medications, such as tranquilizers, necessary for handling aggressive or fearful dogs safely.
The shelter currently operates with a team of five animal control officers, three clinic workers, and one administrative officer. However, without a veterinarian, critical preventive care and long-term health services for animals are unattainable, affecting both the shelter’s operations and its community programs.
According to Director Grace, dog registrations and the issuance of tags continue, but only for dogs that have already been spayed or neutered, placing added responsibility on pet owners. This requirement has led to increased urgency among pet owners as they seek essential veterinary services.
While two private veterinary providers, including the NGO PAWS, offer limited neutering and spaying services and occasionally bring in specialists for short periods, the Koror Animal Shelter remains a primary destination for those in need of help with their pets. The lack of available services at the shelter, however, could lead to an increase in stray animals and unspayed or unneutered pets, further straining its limited resources.
Despite these challenges, the shelter staff remains committed to animal welfare, continuing their advocacy efforts and actively seeking ways to hire a licensed veterinarian to restore full services to the Koror community. By: Eustoria Marie Borja
Meral telmall el government