MANGILAO, Guam — Driving alone in his truck, Nicholas Ibanez prowls the tiny American island of Guam in uniform, carrying a most-wanted list of dangerous predators that must be taken off the streets. Lately, he also emerges after dark, to avoid the vigilantes who would impede his work. Mr. Ibanez, 41, is the Guam government’s only dogcatcher. And no matter how many hours he works, no matter how elusive he is at the animal control office, he faces an inescapable reality: On this island, there’s just one Nicholas Ibanez, and at least 30,000 stray dogs. “There’s way too many issues and animals — there’s always something waiting,” said Mr. Ibanez, who has held the job for more than five years.

Source: New York Times November 08, 2021 01:18 UTC