300 Unhoused Animals Have Been Rescued From Puerto Rico Via 'Freedom Flight'
August 27, 2022, marked a big day for hundreds of previously unhoused animals.
According to People magazine, the rescue organizations The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue were able to transfer 165 pups and 135 cats in need from Puerto Rico with the help of Tito's Handmade Vodka. The President of Wings of Rescue, Ric Browde, shared that his charity was “thrilled to be the main transportation link in this impressive one-day rescue effort to save 300 lives and bring happiness and joy to countless families and individuals.”
The animals were brought to White Plains, New York, and Portland, Maine so that they could be taken to their forever families. The founder of The Sato Project, Chrissy Beckles, explained why the transfer was urgent. She told the publication:
"With peak hurricane season right around the corner, my team and I are determined to transport as many of these animals off the island as possible, while it is still safe to fly. We are so grateful to our transport partner, Wings of Rescue, all of our shelter and rescue partners, and donors. This massive undertaking would not be possible without a great deal of hard work and collaboration. Together, we are giving 300 deserving animals a second chance at life."
The Program Manager of Tito's Vodka for Dog People, Beth Bellanti Pander, also shared her thoughts about rescuing animals.
“Tito's Handmade Vodka is dedicated to helping our furry friends find safety from both overcrowded shelters and potential storms in Puerto Rico. Wings of Rescue and The Sato Project are making huge impacts in animal rescue and we're grateful to support their missions. After many years of working together, I look forward to hopping on my first transport flight with a pup named Tito and his friends, and bringing them one step closer to finding their forever homes,” stated Pander.
This is not the first time that The Sato Project has saved dogs in Puerto Rico. In a 2020 interview with Time Magazine, Beckles shared that the organization has “rescued over 5,000 dogs over the past 10 years.”
“There’s a place in Puerto Rico that is very sadly known as a dead dog beach. The first time I walked on that beach, there were probably 400 dogs running in packs, it was really overwhelming, I really wanted to make it my mission to make a change there. We have worked very diligently by doing rescue in combination with a community-subsidized spay/neuter program,” explained the rescue advocate.