Animal shelter says visiting sailors unintentionally drowned puppies

Good intentions turned tragic after visiting US Navy sailors allegedly dumped puppies outside the Guam Animals In Need shelter last month.

GAIN employee Stephanie Deforge said six puppies drowned overnight in the height of tropical storm Bebinca.

On the morning of Sept. 10 just before the island was put in Condition of Readiness 3, she got a call for help from sailors staying at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa after they found abandoned puppies in the parking lot.

“We were in the middle of clearing the shelters so we weren’t able to take in any more animals for the day, unless it was for emergency euthanasia,” said Deforge. “We couldn't keep them here during the storm because we had no idea if we were going to have power, water or anything post-storm. We didn't even know if the staff would be able to make it here safely. And we didn't have any fosters to take any unvaccinated and unmedicated animals into their homes.”

She explained the circumstances to the caller. But instead of bringing in the puppies during the day to be humanely euthanized, she said they abandoned them to ‘suffer’ in a plastic tote container at their front gates after staff had gone home.

Surveillance footage shows three individuals took the time to set up a makeshift tent at night, which she said instead acted as a funnel that collected water in the container.

“The water levels were rising all night long and there was nowhere for the puppies to lay down in there. Unfortunately for 12 hours, they were forced to stand in the cold, loud winds,” Deforge said, calling it torture.

The staff discovered the tragic sight in the morning. In a video filmed by an employee, sounds of the puppies crying could be heard.

The employee also heard saying “he took the time to do all this, but couldn’t keep them. How pathetic.”

“Every one of them had crackling lungs, they were sick, their temps were too low. They were in really really rough shape when we found them and they unfortunately did not make it,” Deforge said.

The sailors had posted on social media also asking the community for help so the shelter knew who they were. GAIN reached out to them but got no response.

Then, a formal complaint was made to the Navy and an investigation was conducted. But they were told nothing could be done as the Navy could not get the sailors' command to respond.

KUAM also reached out to the Navy and Joint Region Marianas for comment.

JRM Public Affairs Officer Lt. Commander Michelle Tucker confirmed the initial investigation determined that no Guam-based sailors were involved in the alleged incident.

She said while she can’t comment on it directly as JRM conducts their investigation, she said “we value the close relationship the Navy shares with Guam Animals In Need, with many Sailors volunteering time to care for the animals on a regular basis and some providing forever homes for them.”

In the meantime, Deforge leaves a message for the sailors.

“If you aren’t going to take responsibility for the animals you pick up from the street, leave them on the street because they could have gone to higher ground.”