Dear Sato Supporter,

Thanks to the support of our community, we evacuated 300 satos and gatos in five flights since Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico.

Within the last two weeks, our small but mighty team worked tirelessly to coordinate three more flights with four of our partnering shelters on the island, evacuating all the animals in their care that were able to fly. These shelters are still without power and some without water. Deciding to use our resources to evacuate them was incredibly important and potentially saved many lives.

I truly thank you for your support. Our quick response would not have been possible without you. Thank you for not forgetting about Puerto Rico.

With much of the island still without power and water after Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico last month, shelters are still struggling in the dark. Our team always thinks about what we can do with our resources that makes the strongest impact on as many lives as possible. It was clear: continue to help shelters in need.

Helping these shelters free up their kennels and cages not only helps relieve them while they repair and rebuild from their flood damage, but it leaves them better equipped to help their communities with more animals as the crisis continues.

LEFT: Dr. Brito, our veterinarian, is providing vetting services to the animals at Ponce municipal shelter. RIGHT: A generator sits on the floor powering the municipal shelter that remains without power.

Last week, our small but mighty team was at the Ponce municipal shelter, where they were still without power and water after Hurricane Fiona hit almost a month ago. We purchased a generator in order to help with the day-to-day operations of the shelter and to ensure that necessary diagnostic tests, vital to their vetting protocols, can be completed.

We took our veterinarian, Dr. Brito of Candelero Animal Hospital, to physically examine every dog and cat. We tested for communicable diseases (including heartworm, Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis, TVT, FIV and ringworm) and vaccinated these precious animals to ensure protection from distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, Feline leukemia, and rabies.

We ensured that every dog and cat in the shelter had preventatives for the foreseeable future for fleas, ticks, and heartworm. This protects new intakes, as well. All the animals at Ponce municipal shelter that were able to fly were brought to the mainland last weekend. We are so grateful that we can make such a powerful impact on shelters on the island that need resources and relief. 

Over the last two weeks, we scheduled three flights out of Puerto Rico. Coordinating flights plans with our partner, Wings of Rescue, we managed to fly over 130 animals to safety where they can be looked after with proper resources.

We appreciate everyone's effort in connecting us with shelters in the mainland, including the Midwest. We worked tirelessly reaching out to countless shelters and rescue groups, securing space for as many satos and gatos as we could. This is the first time ever that we have flown animals to the Midwest, and it's heartwarming to know that we are creating new relationships with shelters and rescue groups to help even more satos.

Sadly, in Puerto Rico, very few of these dogs and cats get adopted locally, and because there is limited space with limited resources, the situation is far from ideal.

Evacuating these animals, especially in the quantity that we did, would not have been possible without your support through donations.

Animal Lighthouse Rescue, The Humane Society of Atlantic County,

Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter, Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts of Dutchess County - CARE of DC, Home for Good Dog Rescue,

Jersey Shore Animal Center, Kent Animal Shelter, Last Hope Animal Rescue,

Monmouth County SPCA, Paws4Survival Rescue Inc., Paws Chicago, Paws Crossed Animal Rescue, Potter League for Animals, NYC Second Chance Rescue Dogs, SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, SPCA of Southwest Michigan, St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, and Wayside Waifs.

Be sure to follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to stay in the loop as our relief efforts continue.

All animals traveling have been quarantined, vaccinated, and have health certificates from licensed veterinarians that certify them healthy to fly. They are available for adoption through the local shelters and rescue groups mentioned above. To help support our hurricane relief efforts, please click here to donate to our work, or sign up to foster or adopt a dog in need.

Another big way to help is to keep the conversation going about Puerto Rico and the situation that the Puerto Rican people and animals are facing. You can start by forwarding this newsletter to your friends and colleagues. We need every voice we can to speak up for Puerto Rico right now to keep this crisis from disappearing from the news cycle.

Please help us spread this news far and wide so we can reach as many dogs as possible! On Saturday, October 15th, our team, along with the help of Dr. Brito of Candelero Animal Hospital, will vaccinate up to 450 dogs for FREE. There is no cost for any dog owner to participate in this clinic. 

Each dog in attendance will be vaccinated for (and therefore protected against) distemper, leptospirosis, rabies, and parvovirus. All four of these deadly viruses continue to have outbreaks in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Fiona left standing water throughout the island (which makes it easier for diseases to spread), it’s even more important for dogs to get protection. 

The only way to fight back is to vaccinate as many dogs as possible. Please go to thesatoproject.org/vaccineclinic for more information on attending this event, in both Spanish and English.

We would like to give a big thank you to Banfield Foundation for all of their support and for providing a grant that is making this clinic possible! 

Here is @millie_time_5 enjoying some 'Rescue Roast' coffee blend from

Grounds & Hounds (a.k.a. a treat inside a mug)

Thank you so much to Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. for selecting us as their Rescue Roast partner this month!

They have a campaign that will run until October 31st, where 100% of all proceeds of their ‘Rescue Roast’ coffee blend will go toward supporting our rescue efforts.

Also, if you would like to purchase other products from Grounds and Hounds, if you use code THESATOPROJECT, 20% of every item purchased will go towards helping us save more dogs from the streets in Puerto Rico. 

You can learn more about this life-saving partnership by clicking here.

Our precious and heavily missed former supervisor of our property has found his new job: adoring his 94-year-old grandmother, Solange, who also lives with him. From the moment Pekeke walked into his new home, his new favorite place became right by her side. As much as we miss him, Pekeke is clearly right where he is supposed to be — home.

Forwarded this newsletter? Click here to join our list.