Paradise

It’s hard to believe that less than 10 weeks ago we packed up our life in NY and moved to Puerto Rico. In so many ways it was a move to Paradise. You’ve probably seen pictures of the house and property. A gorgeous house on the side of a mountain in the middle of the jungle. Spectacular views in every direction. Beautiful flowers everywhere – orchids grow wild here! There are bananas, papayas, almonds, avocados, mango, sugar cane, orange trees, peppers, tomatoes, herbs and we even found a pineapple! Lizards sun themselves on the walkway and scurry away as you approach. The days are filled with the the peaceful melody of the songbirds and the rustling of banana leaves. At night the music changes to a serenade of the tiny coqui (little frogs). On a clear night you can almost reach out and touch the stars. The people here are warm and loving, and they have welcomed us with open arms. We have already made good friends here. And new people come every day to visit! Some are neighbors, coming by to say hello and introduce themselves. Many are people who have heard about what we are doing and want to help. Or they are rescuers themselves and they need help. They need hope. WE ARE THAT HOPE.

Trouble in Paradise

You don’t have to go very far outside the sanctuary to realize that Puerto Rico is clearly NOT a paradise for dogs. By now you have heard that dogs are dumped on beaches here. But did you know they are dumped EVERYWHERE in Puerto Rico? On any given day we can count at least 10 dogs on the small road we take into town. One small road. And in the town, dogs can be found in almost every parking lot, at the schools, outside stores and restaurants. They can be found running along the highway and at the nearby beaches as well. Anywhere and everywhere. They are hit by cars, poisoned, and they succumb to illness and injury. But the biggest threat to the dogs here may very well be the method that municipalities use to control the population. The local authorities told us they have picked up 400 dogs in the past 5 months. These dogs are taken to a shelter a couple of hours away, and sadly, most are killed. Try to imagine the number of intakes at a shelter that serves dozens of towns if ONE town is bringing in almost 100 dogs per month.

and yet the number of stray dogs continues to grow.
CLEARLY, KILLING IS NOT THE ANSWER.

In the past two months we have taken in two litters of pups. In just a few short weeks the kennel runs will be ready, and with your help we will be able to rescue dozens of dogs at a time and transport them to the states.

BUT THE PROBLEM OF ABANDONED DOGS IN PUERTO RICO
WILL NEVER BE SOLVED BY RESCUE AND TRANSPORT ALONE. 
That’s why a great deal of our efforts are being directed toward establishing these vital programs:

• Low or no cost spay/neuter/vaccine initiatives to assist people who want to keep their pets.
• A Trap/Neuter/Release program for stray dogs that calls on all rescue groups to employ consistent protocols island-wide
• Local adoption initiatives and outreach events to educate the public about the importance of spaying/neutering, immunizing and keeping their pets at home.
• Humane Education and Volunteer programs for the children of Puerto Rico, to teach a new generation of islanders about the plight of the animals and what children can and must do to help them.

Happy Endings

Roberto and Thomas (aka Tomás) were the first pups to find refuge at the sanctuary in Puerto Rico.
We found the tiny six week old puff balls living in a scrap metal yard.
They went to NY a few weeks ago, and they have both been adopted into loving homes!

The Kennels

We knew it would be challenging to erect kennel runs on the side of a mountain in the middle of the jungle – and we weren’t wrong! We are waiting for a few days of hot sunshine to dry up the ground sufficiently to allow the cement trucks in – and it will be smooth sailing from there! Once the cement is poured the fencing will go up quickly, and we can pull the many dogs we have been feeding and keeping our eyes on. We are so anxious to be able to offer them a safe haven and the start of the new life they deserve.

Mrs. Brown

Some dogs simply cannot wait. We found Mrs. Brown living in a parking lot. By all accounts, this girl had been hanging around there for many months. When we met her, she was wary at first, but she was happy to let her guard down once she knew we not planning to harm her. As we fed her and tended to her sores, she rewarded us with a wagging tail and lots of kisses. Mrs. Brown’s sagging nipples told a story of many pregnancies in her short life, and she is pregnant again, with babies due any day. We couldn’t leave her there, so we put her in the car and took her home with us to the sanctuary. Mrs. Brown is truly a sweetheart – she enjoys her soft bed and loves mealtimes – but what she wants most is our company! We are putting the finishing touches on a special area for new moms and pups, and hope to have it completed before Mrs. Brown’s pups arrive.

Puppy Love

Arturo, Alina, Antonio and Aracela (the “A” Team) are 8-week old babies who were found living at the side of a road in Luquillo. Their mom is being cared for and we have promised to take her just as soon as we have a kennel run ready – but the pups needed medical attention that could not wait. So we took them in and treated them for severe anemia (caused by parasites) and a fungal infection. They are fully recovered now and will be heading to NY next week!

The Pets Alive DIFFERENCE

At the sanctuary in Puerto Rico, we employ the same high standards of care found at the Pets Alive facilities in NY – because that is what YOU our supporters demand and because the the dogs of Puerto Rico deserve no less. While in our care, all dogs are tested for Parvo and Distemper (and Heartworm if over 3 months of age) – and if they test positive they will receive the special care they need before they leave here. They are treated for parasites, immunized, Frontlined, and spayed or neutered. Those who are ill or injured are provided with medical treatment. All dogs are loved and cared for at the sanctuary for a minimum of three weeks until they are ready for adoption on the island or transported to NY for adoption at one of our facilities there. It costs more than $500 to rescue, provide food, shelter and veterinary care, and transport EACH dog. We couldn’t do any of this without YOU!
Roberto, Thomas (aka Tomás), Alina, Arturo, Aracela, and Antonio – these pups are just the start of something BIG happening in Puerto Rico, and there is much more to come – thanks to YOU and your support.

Together we will get them ALL home. Love from Puerto Rico,
Joy and Ken
XOXOXO