Tina Guzman, founder of Guåhan Paws For Pets, participated in a recent door-to-door survey with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, revealing approximately 60,000 stray dogs in Guam as of summer 2025. Guzman was present at Saturday’s Petpalooza event hosted by Guam Animals In Need at Agana Shopping Center, aimed at promoting pet adoption and fostering while addressing the stray animal population.
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Guzman, whose organization operates on a foster-based model, currently has eight animals available for adoption or fostering. She emphasized the need for emergency care for stray animals that are injured, malnourished, or ill. "We provide all the medical bills, food, supplies and whatever is needed to foster, as long as we have someone to volunteer to foster, rehabilitate and then find them a home," she said.
On the issue of strays on the island, Guzman stressed the importance of education regarding animal care and the necessity of spaying and neutering pets. She noted that the problem of stray cats and dogs has persisted for years without adequate resolution. "It’s been proven worldwide that if you spay or neuter your pets, you can control the population," Guzman explained, cautioning against the misconception that removing a stray will solve the problem, a phenomenon known as the vacuum effect.
Lorena Fortunato, GAIN foster program coordinator, mentioned that the stray population on the island surpasses the number of residents, with thousands of animals wandering the streets and only four animal control officers available. "That’s not enough... We have only 52 dog kennels for thousands of animals. It’s very hard to keep up with the population," Fortunato stated.
She acknowledged the risks that strays pose, including aggression that can develop from fear and the threat of diseases like canine parvovirus, which can be fatal for puppies. "It is a very dangerous disease. Yes, it could be cured; however, it is very expensive and hard to catch," she added.
Guzman also noted that it can be challenging to differentiate between truly stray animals and pets allowed to roam freely, particularly when those pets are not spayed or neutered. She highlighted the issue of pet owners being unaware of Guam’s leash law, which requires pets to be leashed or contained.
The community can play a crucial role in addressing the stray animal crisis, according to Agana Heights resident Rayden Carter. He hopes that by increasing awareness of events like Petpalooza, more pets can transition to homes. "It’s an important thing because it helps us tie together pets and homeowners. Sometimes, they don’t think about helping by adopting or fostering," Carter said.
Devin Quinata from Humåtak commented that while his village has fewer stray issues, understanding resources for population control is critical for the wider community. He believes that education can prevent incidents like stray dogs attacking children.