[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMENDING GUAM ANIMALS IN NEED (GAIN)

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Guam Animals 
in Need, GAIN, organization for their service to our community and for 
their leadership in a recent effort to rescue greyhounds. After a 
greyhound race track closed on Guam, GAIN led efforts to rescue the 
greyhounds by finding caring owners on island to adopt the abandoned 
dogs, and by helping to transport the majority of the greyhounds to 
shelters in the mainland.
  Chartered in 1989, GAIN is a non-profit organization dedicated to 
preventing cruelty toward animals and to providing shelter for animals 
in need. GAIN's efforts have also included educating our community on 
animal welfare. In 2001, GAIN expanded its services by assuming 
management and operation of our island's animal shelter.
  GAIN has led numerous initiatives over the years to improve animal 
welfare on Guam. It has been instrumental in taking stray animals off 
the streets and reducing the number of stray animals through the annual 
Spay Neuter Assistance Program, operated by visiting and local 
veterinarians and volunteers. This program has resulted in the 
sterilization of over 3,500 dogs and cats. GAIN also successfully 
partnered with local businesses and community organizations to provide 
support through the Adopt a Kennel project. These businesses and 
organizations are recognized with a sign placed on their sponsored 
kennel. Furthermore, GAIN has facilitated the adoption of thousands of 
animals by caring pet owners through their Shelter Adoption Program.
  GAIN recently received national attention resulting from their 
efforts to help over two hundred greyhounds that needed homes after the 
sudden closure of the greyhound race track on Guam. For several months 
after the track's closure, GAIN rescued abandoned greyhounds in 
villages and remote areas. The organization and its members cared for 
these greyhounds and searched for responsible pet owners in our 
community to adopt them. GAIN worked with the management of the former 
race track to address the large number of greyhounds needing adoptive 
homes. GAIN partnered with mainland greyhound advocacy groups to help 
rescue the greyhounds on Guam, including the Greyhound Protection 
League; Home Stretch Greys; North Coast Greyhound; and Greyhound 
Friends of Massachusetts. Continental Airlines contributed to this 
effort by providing discounted air fares to transport some greyhounds 
on flights to the mainland.
  The greyhound rescue effort was a significant and combined effort for 
Guam's animal welfare community. Under GAIN' s leadership, non-profit 
organizations and community groups worked together to provide care and 
medical services to the greyhounds. As a result of GAIN's efforts, to 
date, 136 greyhounds have been successfully relocated to shelters and 
homes in the mainland and 23 greyhounds have been adopted in local 
homes. This rescue effort continues as GAIN and its volunteers work to 
locate the remaining abandoned greyhounds and to find homes for all the 
dogs from the former race track.
  I commend the Guam Animals In Need organization for their service to 
our community and for their commitment to caring for animals on Guam.

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