For two years efforts have been made to develop a plan of action to control the island's stray dog population. The plan's done, but it now comes down to funding. Yigo mayor Rudy Matanane heads up the Mayors Council's Stray Dog Round-Up Committee "We are trying to pay more funding to offset the requirements to pay for the dogs. If the dogs are caught loose, and, let's say, Animal Control picks them up," he explained.

The plan focuses on female dogs and ensuring that they are spayed. Focusing on the female dog is key because one female dog in just 18 months can produce 126 new dogs. Part of the plan also includes rounding up dogs throughout the island that are not properly secured this means even the dogs whose owners let them run loose. "When Animal Control picks them up the plan is they go to Guam Animals In Need. GAIN checks the dogs and checks if the dogs are registered if the dogs have gotten all the shots that it is supposed to get like rabies and if there is neutering that needs to be done," said the mayor.

According to Mayor Matanane, owners will be able to retrieve their pets but there is a catch. "The owner tries to come and pickup the dog the owner has to be able to pay all the shots the micro-chipping and all the requirements need for the dog to be out in the public again, I mean, for the dog to go home," he said.

He says the plan proposes funding for owners who are not able to afford the full costs needed to claim their dog. Owners who are on government assistance will be given a discount but first the owner must fill out a form to determine their eligibility bracket and what discount category they fall under. The program would then offset the bill. But what happens if an owner simply can't pay?

"If they cannot afford to pay that after the assistance from the government and all these entities that we are trying to get assistance from the dog goes back to gain and put out for adoption. After a certain amount of time if the dog does not get adopted we get rid of the dog we euthanize it," Matanane said. The mayor says that they will be submitting their plan to the Mayor's Council for review in August.

Once the Council agrees on the plan it will then be submitted to the Guam Legislature.