Hi there,
We hope you are enjoying the first days of spring. Here in the northeast, we are getting some 60-degree days. Our team in New York is soaking in every bit of this warmer weather and our satos in the area are, too!
As we discussed in our last newsletter, heartworm disease is both very common and very serious with satos in Puerto Rico. However, this disease spread by mosquitos isn't the only communicable disease from which dogs on the island can be infected. There are many diseases, including Canine distemper virus, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and rabies. When dogs are on the streets in packs, diseases spread like wildfire.
Our efforts to combat the spread of infectious diseases among the satos on the island is to offer a variety of community outreach programs that provide free services to low-income families. We have a spay/neuter voucher program that provides sterilization procedures and vaccinations to owned dogs when their owners do not have the means to pay for them. We also have free vaccine clinics that we rotate around the island, aiming to provide free veterinary care to those who need it most.
|
|
On March 11th, we held a vaccine clinic in Yabucoa, which is a meaningful location for us. It's where the rescue efforts of our Founder and President, Chrissy, all began, even before The Sato Project existed, and where we still focus our rescue effort today.
We administered vaccines to dogs as young as six weeks old all the way up to senior sweethearts. With the help of Dr. Brito from Candelero Animal Hosptial, we vaccinated over 220 dogs. That's 220 satos that are now protected against communicable diseases and have a lower chance of spreading disease to other dogs. The impact is exponential and this is all possible thanks to the donations of our supporters.
|
|
You may have seen our sweet senior sato, Buddy, across our social media channels with the exciting news that he would be flying on Saturday to a foster family in New York. Unfortunately, our team found an ulcer in Buddy’s right eye this week and he will need to stay in Puerto Rico for some more time to get the care he needs. He’ll stay under our supervision until his eye is completely healed.
The good news is, Buddy has been fitted and measured for a wheelchair! As you may remember, when we brought him into our program, his x-rays showed that he had complete fractures in both of his hind legs, suggesting he was run over by a car. After an orthopedic surgeon evaluated him with his x-rays, he did not recommend surgery due to his age and lack of muscle in his hind legs. His wheelchair will arrive next week and he’ll be able to take the next step of his recovery at our property and continue being the speedy and playful senior that he is. He also completed his heartworm treatment and is recovering well.
In case you missed it, you can support Buddy's healing journey through our Foster From Afar program. You’ll be the first to learn about new milestones in his healing journey and your support will directly help with Buddy’s medical expenses. Click here to support Buddy’s recovery.
|
|
Do you know someone who is interested in adopting? Forward this newsletter to them. If they find their soulmate in our program, they will always be grateful that you did. To see all of our adoptable dogs, CLICK HERE.
|
|
Help us continue the conversation about stray and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. 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 and you can be a big help.
|
|
Bear was once a calm pack leader who roamed Dead Dog Beach in Puerto Rico. He was one of the first ones we were able to rescue from this group of strays. He joined our program last October and tested positive for heartworm, but since then has successfully gone through our extensive heartworm protocol.
Named appropriately for his long, furry beige coat, Bear is so sweet and playful and enjoyed playing with the other satos during his time at our property. He even impressed our team with how great he walks on the leash! He flew to a foster home in February, but that didn't last long. Soon after, his future adopter, Patrick, was looking online for a larger size dog that is good with cats and he came across our lovely Bear. Once he found our fluffy, gentle sato, he knew he had found his new family member!

|
|
Now, Bear is adjusting to life in the Northeast. He’s still getting used to his new home, but is fond of his three cat siblings and is showing off all of the obedience he’s learning in training classes! As a reward for being such a good boy in class, he gets to slurp up a pup cup at the drive-through window where the barista enjoys the moment with laughter. This soft-mannered pack leader loves going for rides in the car. That makes it easy for him to tag along when Patrick wants to go places.
Just last week, Bear was playing in the snow for the first time with Patrick. One would think this bulky sato is a fan of the cold temperatures because of his thick coat, but Patrick says Bear prefers the warmer weather. Perhaps you can take the sato off the island, but you can't take the island out of the sato. Warmer days are upon us, Bear!
|
|
Were you forwarded this newsletter?
|
|
|
|
The Sato Project is dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico, where there are an estimated 500,000 stray dogs and a combined euthanasia rate of 94% across all municipal shelters. In 10 years, we have rescued 6,500 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 no-cost spay/neuter and vaccine programs. |
|
We fight, so the dogs of Puerto Rico don't have to. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
‌
‌
‌
