Mission Possible: Meet the Nonprofit Rescuing Puerto Rico’s Stray Dogs

Puerto Rico has an estimated 650,000 stray dogs, affectionately called “satos,” who live on the streets in poor conditions. A combination of low spay/neuter rates, a lack of access to affordable vet care, and disasters like 2017’s Hurricane Maria and 2020’s earthquakes has led to a growing population of street dogs.

A nonprofit called The Sato Project has set out to help these dogs, partnering with different organizations to transport them to the US to find forever homes. Read on to find out about the amazing work this organization is doing and how you can help!

Mission Possible: The Rescue Flights

One of The Sato Project’s major programs is running regular rescue flights that bring stray dogs to the US for adoption. Here’s how the process works:

First, the rescued dogs have to pass veterinary checks and behavioral assessments. When they’re ready for adoption, hardworking animal rescuers get the lucky dogs ready in the middle of the night, when the heat risks are low and the dogs are calm and sleepy. The dogs are securely packed into private planes and flown to New York or New Jersey, where they are taken to their adoptive families.

The Sato Project calls these rescue flights “Mission Possible,” and the most recent one, which took place July 5th, was Mission Possible 20. For this mission, The Sato Project teamed up with a new pet-friendly airline called RetrievAir. With the help of RetrievAir, the nonprofit was able to deliver 37 dogs to new homes in the United States.

In addition to the flights, The Sato Project runs TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) programs to reduce future stray dog populations. TNR programs capture stray dogs, spay or neuter them, and then release them, typically with a tipped ear or other indicator that they have already been spayed or neutered.

Operation Sato

The organization’s spay/neuter and vaccination program is called Operation Sato, and it offers mobile clinics and vouchers to owners or stray caretakers who may not be able to afford veterinary care. According to the program, each dog treated by Operation Sato receives over $600 worth of care.

By the Numbers

The Sato Project, which was founded in 2011 and is based in Brooklyn, boasts some pretty impressive statistics. According to their website, they have:

• Flown 8,000 stray dogs to their forever homes
• Spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped 4,500 dogs
• Distributed over 150,000 pounds of supplies across the island
• Reunited 268 dogs and cats with their owners on the mainland

How Can You Help?

Fundraising for Mission Possible 20’s TNR program is ongoing, so you can still donate by visiting the mission website. You can also volunteer to help the program by donating your time and effort. If you live in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Hampshire (or even Puerto Rico!), you can volunteer to foster (or transport) freshly arrived satos who don’t yet have a forever home.

You can also donate your social media or design skills, get your company involved, or throw a fundraiser to support the cause. Following along on social media and sharing the program with your friends and family helps, too!

Featured image credit: ©NYCPetPhotographer, Stacey Axelrod