NO DOG LEFT BEHIND.
In the wake of Hurricane Maria’s devastation in 2017, thousands of families started evacuating Puerto Rico for the mainland. Many were unable or could not afford to arrange passage for their pets. Our “No Dog Left Behind” program was created to reunite dogs with families on the mainland who had to evacuate the island after a natural disaster. It has since expanded to help keep families together who are relocating, help place dogs with an extended family member during illness or death, aid military personnel who are redeploying or returning home, and help folks who rescue dogs on the island while visiting to bring their new family members home.
When a struggling pet owner is able to keep their dog instead of abandoning it in the streets or taking it to a shelter (especially in Puerto Rico, where the combined euthanasia rate for the four shelters in Puerto Rico is 94%), it is so much better for the dog, the family, and the island. Since the initiation of this program we have reunited almost 300 dogs and cats with their families on the mainland, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Today, No Dog Left Behind proudly continues under the banner of our expanded flight program, SATO United.
The origins
The STORIEs
Satos really have a way of sneaking up on you with the force of their loyalty and their love. For years, Henry’s father in Camuy, Puerto Rico would feed a little female dog that would come by his property. The family was surprised she kept coming back - they’d always say when visiting again, “We doubt she’ll still be there!” But there she was, year after year. And the nickname of Duda (“doubt” in Spanish) stuck.
But there was never any doubt that she was theirs.
When Mr. Vasquez was nearing the end of his life, he was anxious about what would happen to Duda without him there to take care of her. She was old and didn’t have great eyesight by that point, and wouldn’t be able to fend for herself. That question also kept Henry and his sister up at night for months after their father passed away. For half a year they tried everything to get her transported to the mainland so she could officially join their family.
If you are missing someone, a human or a furry friend, our hearts are with you ♥️ There is no love without loss. We are so grateful to have this beautiful community, where together we can celebrate the highs and also comfort each other through the lows.
IMAGINE BEING SEPARATED FOR A YEAR.
When Emmanuel came to us, he’d been missing his dog Hunter for that long. After adopting, him on The mainland, it was time for Emmanuel and his family to head back to Puerto Rico - but Hunter’s size and the enormous cost of transport made it impossible to bring their beloved dog back home with them. Hunter stayed behind with Emmanuel’s sister-in-law for an entire year while he desperately tried to figure out how to fly Hunter home to them. After he reached out to us, we arranged for Hunter to travel on a leg of our April Freedom Flight out of New Jersey, on our way to pick up dozens of satos to bring back to the mainland for adoption. That’s right, sometimes we fly dogs TO Puerto Rico! Our No Dog Left Behind program unites owners with their pups in EITHER direction they need. And at zero cost to them.
Listening to Emmanuel describe how hard it had been to live without his dog for the past year broke our hearts. But watching him load Hunter on a plane, just to have to then turn around and meet him back in Puerto Rico again, was such a special experience. It’s incredible, the lengths we’ll go to for our dogs. The Sato Project is honored we could play a part in it.
SHE BEAT CANCER JUST IN TIME TO FLY
Rosana knew it would be difficult to have her emotional support dog, Flor, transported from Puerto Rico to New York City when she moved, just based on the fact that Flor was 50 lbs and categorized as a pitbull mix.
Then Flor was diagnosed with cancer and everything got even more complicated.
Rosana had to continue to New York City alone to begin school, and was absolutely devastated to have to do so. She checked in on Flor’s cancer progression every day as she received treatment back in Puerto Rico. After an entire year of aggressive medical care for Flor’s cancer, she was finally pronounced healthy and medically cleared to fly! This time, Rosana contacted us right away for help.
We were honored to get to transport Flor to the mainland for Rosana on New Year’s Eve of 2024, ending their year-long separation and restoring their family at last. We wish Flor all the continued good health in the world!