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Mugoddai is an important member of our family. He's loved by so many people.

I'm the one who found Mugoddai when he was just a baby, but I'm not the only one who cares that he is missing. My nephew Hila'an on Guam asks me whenever we talk, "Wheres's Mugoddai?" Hila'an and Mugoddai grew up together. I have pictures of Hila'an holding Mugoddai and feeding him a bottle when he was three years old. Mugoddai is the only pet Hila'an has ever had. The first thing he asked me when I stepped off the plane on Guam in April of 2006 and 2007 was, "Did you find him yet?" As for me, without going into too much detail, I work for a Federal agency doing outreach to underrepresented, but emerging communities.  I have been involved with issues pertaining to Indigenous Peoples since the Seventies. In july of 2006 I was at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to observe Human Rights Council meetings. The Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the Council. The Declaration was adopted by U.N. General Assembly in September of this year. The Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States did not support this document, but a majority of U.N. member states did.


I do other things besides looking for my beloved cat

My eyes are always open for my lost black cat Mugoddai, but I also study dance , produce public access video programs, help various organizations such as the Navajo Nation Veterinary and Livestock Program, the International Society for the Protection of Horses and Burros, Days End Horse Farm Rescue and others when needed. I have completed two animal disaster response courses and was asked to deploy during Hurricanes Isabel and Katrina. I do beadwork, I work out at the gym, I love to read and watch films and I visit my extended family on Guam. I'm a regular at the NMAI and I just offered to volunteer at the Liberation Day Picnic of the Guam Society of America (how fun is that!!!!) I also really love to sing karaoke. I have a degree in Journalism and a Masters in Communications and Anthropology. I've been a journalist, college professor and lobbyist for indigenous issues. I have also done a bit of acting, which is really fun. I studied opera and theater arts, and acting for film. I am fortunate to have many friends, colleagues and neighbors who like and respect me. Did I mention my super amazing, truly unique family?

I sure hope that if somebody has seen or found my lost black cat, Mugoddai they will understand that the person who raised and loves this lost cat is a real person, not just a statisitic linked to the 15 million pets that go missing each year in the U.S.  I'm the person who lives with the  hope that somehow my cat can be found and that he is safe.  My life is interesting and dynamic, but I miss my cat very much and I hope is is doing okay out there somewhere.

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There is a Working Group at the United Nations level working on a Draft Declaration on Animal Welfare.  It is a long process but when complete, it will lay a framework of how animals will be treated.  It will be incumbant upon us to encourage our governments to support it.  For more information click on

World Society for the Protection of Animals

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That's me with Gzorro, lost cat Mugoddai's best friend.

My black cat is still lost. I can only imagine what he's up to.