Yesterday I had the great fortune to participate in the fourth round of our Spayathon™ for Puerto Rico! It was beautiful to see so many pet owners taking responsibility to have their cherished family members spayed, neutered and vaccinated. There were also several rescuers participating, and for us rescuers whose funds are already stretched to the breaking point, this event was a blessing. Together we’re making a tremendous difference in achieving the crucial long-term goal of reducing our abandoned cats and sato populations — there are an estimated 300,000 dogs and puppies (satos) and over 1,000,000 cats and kittens living on our streets.
Satos are usually small dogs under 30lbs. The majority have terrier in them so they tend to be incredibly smart and quick to learn. Many have the instantly recognizable ‘sato’ ears; large ears that stick up and if these amazing little dogs ever get their own Disney movie then I am sure they would be able to fly.
The street or beach is a very hard life for a dog and the majority do not make it past their second birthday. Nature seems to have sensed this and females are giving birth to increasingly large litters of puppies.
The Sato Project
Introducing our heroes, The Humane Society of the U.S. and their national and international partners! The vets, techs and volunteers are doing an amazing job 😃
Puerto Rico is facing a growing animal welfare crisis: Many individuals vacating the island after Hurricane Maria have had to leave their pets behind, adding to the population of unowned animals currently estimated at more than 300,000 dogs and one million cats. Zoonotic diseases like leptospirosis are spreading, posing a threat to both animal and human populations and veterinary resources on the island are already stretched beyond capacity, particularly given the extreme levels of poverty across the island.
We responded to this crisis by establishing SpayathonTM for Puerto Rico, a coalition of 26 national and international groups coming together for the first time to spay, neuter and vaccinate at least 85,000 dogs and cats across the island. Spayathon is founded on a historic agreement signed by the Humane Society of the United States with the Puerto Rico government, Veterinary Association and Veterinary Board, allowing teams of high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter veterinarians to practice on the island for the first time ever...
Since the launch of Spayathon, and in conjunction with other HSUS-sponsored spay/neuter clinics, a total of 25,627 pets have been altered and vaccinated across the island at no cost to their owners. Moreover, each of those animals was vaccinated against diseases that could pose a pressing danger to the human population, like rabies and leptospirosis. Longer term, Spayathon will provide specialized high quality, high volume, spay/neuter training, provided by the ASPCA, for approximately 100 veterinarians and technicians across the island.
I’m so proud to support the Sato Project, they continue to do amazing work here on the island.
*Please take note, the video below may be triggering for many — the reality of what we confront each day on the island with our “satos” is as harsh as it is heartbreaking. It’s an amazing video with a beautiful evolution and ending, though a couple of unmistakable shots at the beginning reflect this cruel reality. No offense ever intended, newp.
What happens when 26 local, national, and international organizations band together in an unprecedented show of support for the people and pets of Puerto Rico? Lasting change and history will be made.
The Spayathon for Puerto Rico is a high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter initiative spearheaded by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to alter over 30,000 dogs and cats in underserved communities across the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Each animal treated will also receive rabies, leptospirosis and other essential vaccinations. All of these services will be provided at no cost to the pet owner. Additionally, every pet owner will go home with a new leash, collar, and bag of food for their animal.
The Sato Project was asked to be the Ground Team for the Southeast sector of the island. For our section, we are responsible for handling all community outreach and registration, organizing additional vet techs, volunteers, and handling all of the daily logistics for the HQHVSNV services. We are extremely proud and excited to be a part of this historic first-of-its-kind coalition.
The target goal is to treat to 30,000 animals by the end of the 4th round of services. This goal is huge. And we aim to take it even higher. This historic mission will be the beginning of permanent change for the hundreds of thousands of homeless and abandoned animals suffering in the streets and on the beaches of the island. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as we share daily updates on our progress made during each round.
Snug as a bug in a rug!
The HSUS’s Humane State Puerto Rico program worked closely with coalition partners Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and First Lady Beatriz Rosselló, the Puerto Rico Veterinary Medical Association and the Puerto Rico Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to sign a memorandum of understanding to implement the initiative over an 18-month period in 2018 and 2019.
“This is the first time our government has participated in such an ambitious and comprehensive sterilization mission,” said Gov. Rosselló. “We are thankful to the Humane Society of the United States for its vision and its unwavering commitment to helping the animals of our island.”
First Lady Beatriz Rosselló added: "This is an initiative of the utmost importance that will allow us to work towards this administration’s goal of improving animal welfare and reducing the number of stray animals on the streets of Puerto Rico. We are excited to work alongside the Humane Society of the United States, the Puerto Rico Veterinary Association and the Puerto Rico Board of Veterinary Examiners to make this vision a reality."
Hope you enjoy the pics!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing these moments with me, and I hope everyone engraves in their hearts the importance of spaying and neutering our pets. Please.
The continuing humanitarian crisis here in Puerto Rico doesn’t just affect us humans, it also deeply affects so many precious 4-legged lives who have no voice of their own.
Let’s be their voice.
newp