Dear Sato Supporter,

A few weeks ago Puerto Rico experienced a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, followed by a series of aftershocks, and a tropical storm - all within a 24 hour time span. Needless to say, t he 2019 hurricane season has been very stressful, and it is easy to feel like the crises we face in Puerto Rico are never-ending. But my team and I are determined to stay focused on the immediate mission at hand: to keep saving lives and bringing as much positive change to this island as we can. We are currently gearing up for the fifth round of the historic Spayathon initiative in only a few weeks, while also sending 30 lucky sato treasures on flights to begin their dream lives. Please continue reading below about everything our community is accomplishing this month below. 

In gratitude,

-- Chrissy Beckles, President and Founder

30 Satos To Take Their Freedom Flights Throughout the Month
Dodger, April, and Miranda all gave big sato smiles in Puerto Rico as they were loaded up for their Freedom Flight. All three of these lucky satos are now enjoying cozy lives with their new families in New England.
October has been another busy month for our transportation team. Thanks to the success of Mission Possible 10 - our biggest Freedom Flight ever of 220 dogs - we were mostly able to clear out both of our veterinary clinics in Puerto Rico at the end of August. But that cleared space meant new dogs could finally have their chance to be taken in off the streets too. Our rescue team immediately scooped some of them up. When October arrived some of our newest rescued satos were ready for their for their new lives to begin, so our team scheduled their Freedom Flights. By the end of this month, 30 dogs will have flown on commercial flights from Puerto Rico to NYC over every week in October. 

These dogs include satos like August and Albert whom we found abandoned on Dead Dog Beach, their little puppy ears filled with the most ticks and fleas we have ever seen on a single little dog. They were both in such awful shape that we were not sure if they would survive. But after several baths and loving care from our team in Puerto Rico, they both bounced right back into the happy puppies they were born to be, and the two brothers took their Freedom Flights earlier this month. August was picked up by his excited new parents at the airport, and Albert heads to his new home later this week. 

You can meet more of our newest arrivals and follow along as more arrive every week on our social media channels:  Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . We would like to say a special thank you to our transportation teams in Puerto Rico and NY for taking so many trips to the airport this month. Our satos are so grateful for your time and effort in guiding them along their journeys to forever happy lives.
After being rescued with the worst case of ticks and and fleas we had ever seen, brothers August and Albert passed all their vetting protocols and took their Freedom Flights earlier this month. Albert went straight into the arms of his new parents as soon as he arrived and August will be with his family by the end of the week.
The Spayathon Returns for Round 5
From November 2-7, anyone in Puerto Rico will be able to bring their dog or cat to any of the above clinic locations to have them spayed/neutered and vaccinated for no cost.
The Spayathon for Puerto Rico is back for another round! The Sato Project is proud to be a part of this historic initiative that is changing lives on the island. The Spayathon is a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter initiative spearheaded by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and a collaboration of 28 different organizations plus the government of Puerto Rico. 

In the initiative’s first year, the coalition treated over 34,000 animals. And now we are back for a second year and a fifth round of free spay/neuter clinics located all around the island. In addition to a spay/neuter surgery, each animal treated also receives rabies, leptospirosis and other essential vaccinations. All of these services are provided at no cost to the pet owner.

For Round 5, November 2-7, The Sato Project's team will be returning to Humacao, the same location where we managed a clinic during Round 4. If you are in Puerto Rico or know anyone who is, please help spread the word so our team can treat as many animals as possible. Learn more about The Spayathon for Puerto Rico by clicking here.  Our team is so excited to continue changing lives while also preventing thousands of unwanted animals from being born and suffering in the streets.
NYC Halloween Parties for Our Satos
Our costume contest winner from last year's Halloween party dressed as a fortune teller. Come to the events below to be one of our winners this year! Photo by Paparazzi NYC
The season of trick-or-treating and costume parties is upon us. How will you be celebrating Halloween? If you are in the New York City area, come and celebrate with us in honor of our satos! We have two events coming up that promise to be lots of fun, are both dog-friendly, AND will help raise funds for our rescue and spay/neuter efforts. Learn more about both events below. 

Saturday, October 19th: Bushwick Bark’s Doggy Costume Contest and Fundraiser for The Sato Project
This Saturday from 3-6pm Bushwick Bark is hosting their 7th annual Halloween party to raise money for rescue dogs at The Footlight Bar in Ridgewood, Queens. A $20 donation at the door gets you free beer from Sixpoint Brewery, entry into the dog costume contest, and other raffle contests with exciting prizes. 100% of all money raised will go towards our rescue efforts. Learn more about this event by clicking here. 

Thursday, October 31st: Halloween & Scary Movie Trivia Hosted by Dan Schachner at Boris & Horton’s 
Put your dog in their best costume and head on over to New York’s only dog friendly cafe for the best dog Halloween party of the night. Boris & Horton is holding a trivia night hosted by Puppy Bowl Ref Dan Schachner. The party will include a dog costume contest and amazing raffle prizes to raise money for our spay/neuter clinics. Prizes include two tickets to Late Night with Seth Meyers, boxing classes, a custom painting of your dog, and more!  Tickets are $15 and proceeds will benefit our efforts. Click here for more information and tickets. 
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Feliz's Howling Success
Left: Feliz and her puppy Smudge were very happy to meet our rescue team on Dead Dog Beach. Right: Feliz cuddles her elderly foster turned forever brother, Pilot.
Feliz was found on Dead Dog Beach in May with her little puppy, Smudge. When our rescue team approached, the two dogs ran right up to them with tails wagging. They had recently been abandoned and were very excited to see friendly faces carrying food and water. After coming into our program, Feliz and Smudge completed their veterinary protocols and Smudge was matched to a family shortly after. She took her Freedom Flight in July, but her mom had to keep waiting. By the time we were planning Mission Possible 10 at the end of August, Feliz still didn’t have a home lined up yet. Fortunately, however, we found a foster family willing to take her in and she was able to keep her spot on the plane. 

Her foster mom, Omayra, had recently seen a video about The Sato Project’s involvement in The Spayathon for Puerto Rico. She really wanted to help with our efforts and decided that fostering would be a good way to start. Feliz was to be her first foster dog. When Feliz arrived from Puerto Rico, Omayra says that she was taken aback by how sweet, friendly, and trusting she was, given everything she had gone through: “She just wanted to give as much love as possible. She and I became really close almost instantly. By day three I started to think about how difficult it was going to be for me to let her go once she found her forever home.” But Omayra had no intention of adopting. She already had three senior dogs at home and was worried that a new dog would disrupt their calm environment too much. But much to her surprise, not only did Feliz quickly fit in, she immediately cuddled up to the oldest dog, Pilot, and wanted to take all her naps right by his side. Omayra says, “It almost seems like she understands that he’s old and not doing well.” This motherly, care-taking aspect of her personality made Omarya completely fall in love and decide that the only thing better than three dogs was four, and that Feliz was home to stay. “I feel really thankful to have her,” she says, “She is one of the kindest beings I have ever met. “
Left: Feliz loves taking naps snuggled by Pilot's side. Right: Feliz and her new cousin Cassiano can't get enough of each other. Luckily, they get to see each other every weekend when Cassiano comes to visit.
The Sato Project is dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico, where there are an estimated 500,000 stray dogs. With only nine shelters on the island with over a 90% euthanasia rate, we have rescued over 3,500 dogs, rehabilitated them with the highest standards of veterinary care, and found them loving homes on the mainland U.S.. We are also working to make permanent change on the island through community outreach and a Spay, Neuter, Vaccinate and Microchip Program.
"We fight so the dogs of Puerto Rico don't have to."