Ralph Quinonez

An estimated 100,000 stray dogs roam the streets of Valparaiso, Chile, a popular tourist destination and World Heritage Sight. Many have owners that let them out during the day only to bring them in at night, the rest are homeless. For the most part, they are left alone, accepted as members of society. Many of the dogs are even fed and cared for by members of their respective communities. The street dogs however live much shorter lives, subjected to illness and injury. This essay hopefully will raise awareness to the plight of these beautiful animals, and the need for increased spay and neuter, adoption, and sheltering programs.

In the highlands of Guatemala lies the largest No-Kill shelter in Central America, Animal AWARE (Animal Welfare Association-Rescue/Education). Also known as "Hound Heights," the shelter is home to over 300 dogs and 80 cats. The 10 acre compound is run by an American woman and founder, Xenii Nielsen. The shelter offers up dogs for adoption, and promotes spay and neuter campaigns. Low cost spay and neuter clinics are performed on site by volunteer veterinarians, who also staff outreach clinics to local villages. Supported by donations, AWARE also accepts volunteers from throughout the world and houses a volunteer quarters on site.

My latest trip to Cuba was a quest of inquiry, I was curious of what Cubans felt about the opening of relations with the United States. Although the embargo is still formally in place, the Obama administration has eased financial and trade restrictions to the island. It will also be easier to travel to Cuba, and an embassy will be reopening in Havana. Overall, I perceived a sense of optimism, with most of the people I spoke with voicing approval of the change. “The change will be good,” one man told me, nodding his head in approval. “Well, Maybe things will change,” said another. “I would like things to change for all the people of Cuba, as we have been living in poverty,” he told me. As I walked the streets of Havana, I did take notice of an upsurge of paladares (family-run restaurants). “What’s happening now is the families are moving out of the paladares, so the entire house can be used as a restaurant,” my guide informed me. “Many restaurants are opening now, so many foreigners,” a Cuban photographer I met said. “The Cubans marry Italians for example, and they start a business,” she explained. Interestingly, the fastest growing businesses are urban gardens, where produce grown at home is able to be sold to both state and private restaurants of choice. Of course, I met a number of skeptics through my travels. “Nothing will change until the Castros are out,” one man told me. “People are worried Cuba will be less safe,” said another. My guide expressed concern of Cuban’s keeping their national identity. She did seem hopeful however, that the impending changes will ultimately be good for the country. “Cubans find a way,” she told me. “Cubans find a way.”

Every year, on the last Sunday in July, up to 30,000 Christian pilgrims climb Ireland's Croagh Patrick Mountain, "The Reek." The mountain is Ireland's holiest, where St. Patrick fasted for 40 days in 441 A.D. Legend has it after his fast he banned snakes and demons forever from Ireland. On the way to the summit three pilgrimage stations exhibit signs with instructions on the proper rituals and prayers to be performed. Many pilgrims perform the climb for penance, or for the benefit of a sick loved one. In the ultimate act of penance, some pilgrims climb in their bare feet. This is a difficult task as the mountain is steep, rocky, and often slippery with rain. A small chapel rests on the summit, where mass is celebrated every half hour on Reek Sunday. On average, it takes about two hours to reach the summit, with one and a half to get down. As per custom, upon completing the climb, pilgrims enjoy a Guinness from the pub at the base of the mountain.

Born in the immigrant quarter brothels of Buenos Aires, the Tango originally developed representing a duel between challengers for the favors of a woman. The early Tango was considered so obscene Pope Pius X actually banned the dance. Currently, the Tango is danced throughout the world and was declared part of the world's cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2009.

An estimated 200,000 stray dogs roam the island of Puerto Rico at any given time. These stray dogs, called “Satos” by locals, are often dumped on roads and beaches, suffering starvation and abuse. Despite being a territory of the United States, the island of Puerto Rico is notorious for the inhumane treatment of it’s homeless dogs. On the Southeast coast of the island, Playa Lucia beach “Dead Dog Beach,” is a well known dumping ground for unwanted dogs. Some of the documented abuses that have occurred are poisonings, death by machete, dogs used as target practice and deliberately run over by car. “Island Dog” and “Save-a-Sato” are two organizations dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of stray dogs on the island. Island Dog is a non-profit organization founded and directed by Katie Block. Their mission is to change the animal culture and promote responsible pet ownership in Puerto Rico. They also rescue stray dogs who are then put up for adoption.Through their Red Collar Project, Island Dog feeds and medicates over 200 homeless dogs daily who are tagged with a red collar. The dogs are also vaccinated and spayed and neutered. Save-A-Sato is another non-profit group that rescues dogs from the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico. The rescued dogs are brought to a backyard shelter in San Juan, known as the “Albergue de los Milagros” (Shelter of Miracles), where they receive food, shelter and medical care. The dogs are then sent to shelter partners for adoption in the United States. Gloria Marti, the president and shelter manager, runs the shelter from the back of her San Juan home.

Cambiando Vidas (Changing Lives), the motto of HELPS International, an NGO that provides medical, surgical and dental care to Guatemala's rural indigenous population. The mostly volunteer teams make trips to the Guatemalan highlands several times a year. HELPS began in Guatemala in 1984, and currently has operations in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated every November 1st in the Guatemalan town of Sumpango with a Festival of the Giant Kites. In a football field next to the Sumpango Cemetery, kites up to 50 feet in diameter are erected. Often taking weeks to complete, they are constructed with tissue paper over a bamboo frame. The intricate designs carry messages of religious, prophetic, or political nature. The smaller kites take flight in a competition, with the prize going to the longest duration of flight. The airborne kites symbolizes communication between the living and the dead, and the long fluttering tail is said to scare away evil spirits.

The grace, skill, and beauty of members of the Cuban National Ballet is manifest in this series as they pose in a colonial mansion in Habana, Cuba. The privately owned mansion is located in the neighborhood of Vedado, and the portrait session was arranged for our group as participants of a Lorne Resnick Photography Workshop. Cuban ballet dancers are some of the most esteemed in the world, noted for their style, technique and work ethic. They often earn more money than doctors, and are recognized by the government as a tremendous cultural asset. As such, the Cuban National Ballet receives government funding, allowing the company to travel internationally for performances. Also depicted in this series are images from The Centro de promoción de la Danza, a ballet school started by Laura Alonso in 1994. Laura Alonso is the daughter of Alicia Alonso, the founder of Cuba’s National Ballet Company and a world Premier Ballerina. The school, also known as Centro Pro Danza, is housed in a large, partially dilapidated mansion in a poor barrio of Habana. The school receives minimal government funding, and accepts donations to cover the cost of costumes, shoes, and other expenses.

Nestled along a rural road about an hours drive from Yangon, Myanmar, lies the Yangon Animal Shelter. The five acre shelter currently harbors about 500 dogs, all former strays rescued from Yangon and surrounding areas. The shelter was founded in 2012 by Terryl Just, an American woman and teacher at the International School Yangon. She described a tragic event that was a motivating factor for her in the opening of the shelter. “I had been feeding a stray dog for a year,” Just told me. “Then one day I found her poisoned, I felt like I had to do something.” As in many other countries around the world, the poisoning of street dogs is a common practice to control the stray dog population. With the increase of tourism to Myanmar, these poisonings have been reported to be on the increase. The shelter operates mostly from donations and the work of volunteers. It also employs 10 local workers to feed and care for the dogs twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. A local volunteer veterinarian is tasked to vaccinate each new dog. She also performs spay and neuter operations, and attends to the medical needs of any sick or injured dog. A foster program provides a loving temporary home for the rescued dogs. A foster dog may better learn social skills as getting along with other pets and children, as well as leash and potty training. These skills increase the dogs chances of adoption. “We need more fosters,” Just told me. “We’re trying to push for that.” The shelter is open to visitors by appointment, where they may meet their new family member, or take a dog home to foster. In addition to local adoptions, the shelter is able to adopt out dogs to international visitors.

While traveling Myanmar, my girlfriend Jennifer and I visited the Yangon Animal shelter. The shelter was founded by an American woman, Terryl Just, to give safe harbor to street dogs who would otherwise be poisoned by the government. It is one of the few shelters in the country, and currently is home to 500 dogs. As I photographed the shelter, Jennifer was busy cuddling the puppies. She was especially attracted to Bowie and Iman, two young siblings with sweet personalities and light color eyes. “These pups are very special,” Just told us. “They are the only two survivors of a litter of five.” Just continued to relate how the staff at the shelter had taken loads of food and water to people and animals affected by severe flooding in the fall of 2015. Bowie and Iman’s mother, Suzy was rescued from the flooding and brought back to the shelter. She was soon found to be pregnant and had five puppies. Unfortunately, she died six days after giving birth, most likely from a heart problem. A foster mom was found to nurse the puppies, but sadly three of them also died. When we decided to fly home two puppies for adoption in the U.S. the choice was easy, Bowie and Iman. I contacted a Los Angeles based rescue group, Dogs Without Borders, whom with I often volunteer. The director of the group, Galit Reuben, graciously agreed to accept the dogs from Myanmar and place them in their weekly adoption fairs. After weeks of preparation and planning, on March 10, 2016 Bowie and Iman arrived from Myanmar accompanied by Natalie Mathiasen, a longterm shelter volunteer. They appeared at an adoption fair several days later, and received a lot of attention from both volunteers and potential adopters. Thankfully both pups were soon adopted into loving homes. Bowie was adopted by a dentist living in Los Angeles. Mark told me he found his picture on Petfinder and said Bowie reminded him of his beloved dog that had died of cancer several years earlier. Iman was adopted by a young student also living in Los Angeles. “Iman is the center of attention at the dog park,” Abbey told me. “She runs around and gets the other dogs to chase her.” Although Jennifer and I believe we only did a small part in providing these two dogs with forever homes. We do feel a sense of accomplishment. We also feel some frustration that we can’t help all the dogs. Seeing these dogs happy and healthy however, inspires us to continue working for animal welfare. “We did a good thing,” Jennifer told me. “We did a good thing.”

Founded by Chrissy Beckles in 2011, the Sato Project is a stray dog rescue organization working on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico. Their rescue efforts concentrate on Dead Dog Beach (Playa Lucia), a notorious dumping ground for abandoned dogs. In Puerto Rico, “Sato” is slang for street dog. It is often used in a derogatory manner, and stray dogs are often looked down upon and abused. They have been found abandoned on the beach with bullet wounds, broken limbs, amputations and scars from burns. The Sato Project feeds and cares for homeless dogs living on the beach every day, and rescues as many as funding allows. The rescued dogs are taken first to a veterinarian’s clinic, where they are tested for parvo, parasites, heart worm and distemper. They are also tested for mange and de-wormed. Each dog is treated for disease as necessary, a process that may be expensive and can take up to six weeks. They are also spay and neutered. Once healthy, the dogs are flown to shelter partners on the mainland U.S., where they are fostered and put up for adoption. An estimated 200,000 stray dogs roam the island of Puerto Rico. In an attempt to combat the problem of overpopulation, The Sato Project is partnering with Humane Society International to host mobile spay/neuter, vaccination and microchipping clinics. The Sato Project is underwriting much of the cost, in order to provide this service as low-cost to the public. These photographs were taken in May of 2016 as I spent a week with the Sato Project documenting their work.

A two story home on a residential Central Habana street is headquarters to Aniplant, Cuba’s only legally permitted animal welfare organization. As part of my effort to document dog rescue groups throughout the world, on my last trip to Cuba I arranged to meet Nora García, the president of the organization. “We are the only animal welfare organization recognized by the Cuban government,” García told me. “We have three veterinarians that hold clinic hours three times a week,” she said. “We also have two vet technicians and two animal caretakers.” Aniplant cites their mission as seeking to eliminate the suffering of Cuban animals by utilizing mass sterilization campaigns, public education and animal rescue.They also recognize that sterilization is the most important factor in reducing the stray animal population, but the economic conditions in Cuba make this a hardship for many people. The organization offers free physical exams, and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for just $2 CUC ($2 dollars U.S.). If a person cannot afford even the $2 fee, the clinic will perform the surgery for free. “People pay what they can,” García said. As we entered the Aniplant clinic we were met by a small pack of dogs, all with their tails wagging and eager for attention. “We have 18 dogs that currently live here,” García explained. “Although two of the dogs have been adopted, one will be going to Italy and another one to California.” The dogs roam free throughout the facility, which is actually a large home renovated to include a reception area, examination room, operating room with anesthesia machine, storage area, and kitchen. As I followed Garcia through the clinic, I saw dogs everywhere - in the reception area, in the office, sitting a kitchen counter, and lounging in the sun on the upstairs patio. Although originally founded to protect the welfare of plants as well as animals, Aniplant currently functions only as an animal welfare organization. Cuba has other organizations for the protection of plant life, but Aniplant is the only one dedicated to animal welfare. The fact that the Cuban government strictly regulates all activity on the island highlights the significance of Aniplant’s government recognition. Aniplant receives no financial assistance from the government however, and thus relies on donations. They are hopeful the recent increase in tourism to the island will bring more visitors, potential adopters, and donations.

As in many countries around the world, Myanmar harbors an abundance of stray dogs. About 180,00 strays live in Yangon alone, Myanmar’s commercial capital. Many homes in the country have dogs as pets, but they typically don’t wear collars and roam free throughout the day. This of course, only adds to the problem of street dog overpopulation. The stray dogs for the most part, are not subject to abuse and are often fed by members of their respective community. As a majority Buddhist nation, most Burmese show a respect for life and don't typically harm animals. The government does carry out culling campaigns however, using mass poisoning in an attempt to control the street dog population. These attempts have been fruitless, and the numbers of strays continue to grow. Animal advocates have called for a more humane solution to the problem, including sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination programs. These programs however have been deemed to be too cost prohibitive by the government. Terryl Just, the founder of the Yangon Animal Shelter has called for help from animal welfare groups to develop Trap, Neuter and release programs. Some of these organizations are hesitant to proceed however, until the cessation of the mass poisoning campaigns. The recent increase of tourism to the country will probably hasten action to control the stray dog overpopulation. Hopefully this will be accomplished in the most humane manner possible.

Milagros Perrunos is a dog shelter in Lima, Peru. What’s special about this shelter however, is that it is the only one caring for disabled dogs in the entire city. Founded eight years ago by Sara Moran, the shelter is safe haven to about sixty rescued dogs, eight of which are wheelchair bound. Others are able to walk on their own but are either missing a leg or have sustained another devastating injury. Able bodied dogs are also harbored at the shelter, and all have been rescued after being abandoned in the streets. The shelter is actually a converted home in Chorrillos, a southern district of Lima. Located in a quiet residential street, the shelter is hard to find, as their are no signs or other indications that anything about the home is special. But as I knocked on the front door, a cacophony of loud barking was immediately unleashed, and thus I was assured I had reached the right place. As I entered the shelter and stepped into the converted living area, Sara was busy fitting one of the paralyzed dogs into his wheelchair. “I started the shelter eight years ago,” she told me, looking up to point to a dog clad in a diaper and resting in his crib, “Bruno has been here for eight years, the first dog I brought into the shelter.” The living room of the home is lined on either side by baby cribs that function as beds for the paralyzed dogs. “We only have one female in the shelter,” Sara told me. “Because when people report that a dog is run over, it’s usually more males than females, because male are more callejeros.” (street dogs) Sara hopes one day to be able to fit some of the dogs with prosthesis, but has been unable to afford the high cost. She pointed to Osito, who was limping around on his right front leg. “He is able to walk but needs a prosthesis,” she told me. “I can help him with a wheelchair but he wants to walk.” The shelter is funded mostly by donations, but Sara has one renter who helps pay some bills. “Food is very expensive,” she explained. “I also can’t run the air conditioner very long, it’s too expensive.” As we toured the shelter I was surprised by the number of dogs in the two story, albeit small house. They were everywhere, sleeping on the floor, in the stairs, or otherwise just roaming around. The dogs were very friendly and for the most part, seemed to get along well. All of the dogs of course, are up for adoption. “It’s hard work, but it makes me happy,” Sara said as she described the daily work of running the shelter. “I’m here everyday, ….at Christmas, New Years, Mothers Day, Birthdays, I’m always here.” “It’s very sad,” Sara continued, “In the beginning I would always cry, for many years it was very hard. When the dogs get sick they want to live, not like us. When we get hit in the head we cry, the dogs, no, they are very strong. I feel like the dogs love to live.” “They teach me a lot,” Sara told me, “They help me.”

Probably everyone who travels to Peru makes a visit to Cuzco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this popular tourist destination is known for it’s Spanish colonial architecture, Peruvian cuisine, and of course, as a gateway to Machu Picchu. As a frequent visitor to this charming city I could not help but notice the abundance of stray dogs, particularly around the Main Plaza which is popular with tourists and is the center of the city. My interest in animal welfare brought me to visit one of the few dog shelters in the city, Soy Callejerito, which means “I am a little street wanderer.” The shelter is run by Maite Carreño Flores and Anyelo Espejo, two friends who started working together in Cuzco to rescue dogs about 6 years ago. Currently harboring about 100 dogs, the shelter receives no help from the local government. “I have spoken to them many times,” Anyelo tells me. “But they tell me that strays are only animals that live in the street. The government helps the sick and the poor, but they can speak. The animals cannot speak.” Both Maite and Angelo have jobs but still struggle to support the day to day shelter operations. They rely heavily on donations and the help of volunteers. “We are the founders, the workers, and we have a lot of experience,” Anyelo says. “But it’s difficult because we have little money. Apart from rent (averaging $600 a month), we also use electricity, gas, and pay for dog food. If we get a sick dog, we also have to pay for a doctor.” Many of the dogs the pair rescue from the streets are in need of medical attention. “It’s difficult to find a veterinarian here in Cuzco because there is no university,” Anyelo says. “There are eight vets here but they are very expensive.” As most in the dogs in the shelter are mixed breed, Maite and Anyelo have difficulty finding people to adopt them. This is because the most popular dogs in Peru are pure bred such as Rottweilers and Pit Bulls. Oftentimes however, a volunteer at the shelter will end up falling in love and bring home a dog. Anyelo recounted how a recent volunteer who had spent 3 weeks at the shelter took home a dog when she returned to Detroit. “It’s the best for adopting,” Anyelo says. “Not adopting the more beautiful dog but adopting the best connection. For me, it’s the best adoption.” As explained by Anyelo, adopting a dog from Peru is not very expensive. The cost for a micro chip and certificate from a veterinarian is about 200 Soles ( $62 US). “All dogs deserve to change their life,” Anyelo says. “In the shelter, it’s not the best life, but it’s good. There’s food, love, and attention. But all dogs need a family. All dogs are special.” During my visit I met volunteers from the U.S., Denmark and England. “I have dogs all over the world,” Anyelo tells me. “The dogs need help,” Anyelo says. “It’s sad for the animals. Abandoned in the street, the dogs in the street abused, their life on the street is very sad. I will change this.”

The southern Italian city of Matera is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination. Most famous for its cave dwellings, or Sassi, Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. This is because the Sassi originated from prehistoric troglodyte settlements. As recently as the 1950’s the caves dwellings were inhabited by Italy’s poorest, as an entire family would occupy one dwelling with no running water, electricity or sewage. The family would also share their living quarters with their chickens, sheep and pigs. Diseases such as malaria was rampant, and the child mortality very high. In 1950 Matera was visited by the Italian prime minister, who was so shocked by the squalid conditions of the city he declared it “a national disgrace.” This lead the government to relocate the population of the slums to housing projects outside of town. After the exodus of Matera’s entire population, the city was abandoned for many years. A turning point for the renewal of Matera was it’s declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. By this time a small population had moved in and bars, restaurants and hotels started to pop up. The filming of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” also helped boost Matera’s notoriety. The most recent boon to tourism however, was the city’s selection as the 2019 European Capital of Culture in October, 2014. As the number of tourists increased, so did the Air B&Bs, cave hotels, bars and restaurants. Matera is comprised of two districts, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. The Sasso Barisano is the most inhabited, and hosts the majority of tourist hotels and restaurants. Whereas in the Sasso Caveoso district most of the cave dwellings remain uninhabited. This district is perhaps the most interesting, as many of the abandoned dwellings are accessible for entry. The best way to explore Matera is by foot, as narrow footpaths and steep stairs run the course of Matera’s labyrinthine structure. There are many vantage points around the upper levels of the city, and getting lost is actually difficult as simply heading downhill will eventually lead to a main thoroughfare or square. Hopefully Matera will not soon be over run by tourists as in other Italian destinations, but a visit to this historic and fascinating city should probably high on one’s list.

Revered by Hindus as a holy city, and popular with international tourists, Varanasi is well known for harboring an abundance of stray dogs. Free roaming bulls, cows, and monkeys can also be seen throughout the crowded city. With limited government intervention for the welfare of these animals, non-governmental agencies have stepped in to fill the gap. I had come to Varanasi to visit Varanasi for Animals, one such NGO with a mission to improve the lives of the cities free roaming animals. Founded in 2014, Varanasi for Animals (VFA) is run by HOPE and Animals Trust, a registered NGO started by a group of animal lovers. The VFA project is also funded by Help Animals India, a USA non-profit that distributes grants to animal welfare organizations in India. The VFA clinic and rescue shelter rests in a rural area about 15 minutes drive from the infamous Ghats (stairs) along the river Ganges. In addition to the sterilization surgeries, VFA treats sick or injured animals, both large and small, rescued from the streets of the holy city. “We will do 13 females today, 10 to 15 surgeries per day on average.” Dr. Deepak explained, as he deftly placed a stitch to complete a spay surgery on an anesthetized street dog. He was operating on a group of dogs that had been captured on the streets of Varanasi just the day before. “I focus on only female dogs for spaying. After surgery we keep the dog for 3-4 days then send them back to the same area we caught them from. We also vaccinate every dog for rabies before we release them. Their left ear is marked, so next year we go back to their area and give them a rabies booster.” Dr. Deepak uses a strict anesthesia protocol to ensure the safety of each anesthetized dog. He then uses a spay hook to bring out the uterus through a very small incision, thus decreasing the dogs recovery time. Another important part of VFA’s work is awareness campaigns in the local community. The organization believes this effort is important to develop community support for the humane treatment of animals. To accomplish this goal, representatives from VFA visit local schools and give presentations on how to care for street dogs. Other topics include first aid for a dog bite, symptoms of rabies and the importance of the rabies vaccine. Reportedly, this outreach campaign has been very well received by students and community members.

The gods won. According to Hindu mythology, the gods won a hard fought battle with demons over a pot (Kumbh) containing nectar of immortality. During this 12 day battle however, a few drops of this precious nectar fell into the rivers of Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik, and Prayagraj, India. The important religious festival of Kumbh Mela is thus celebrated four times over the course of 12 years at these holy locations. As the largest religious gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela receives Hindu pilgrims from all across India. The Hindu devotees travel far and wide to bathe in the holy rivers and free themselves from the cycle of birth and rebirth. As a travel and documentary photographer, I am always intrigued by the power of faith. This faith draws Hindu devotees, some with very limited means, to travel hundreds of miles to this religious event. They come by any means necessary, many just on foot, and with very little clothing and food. Despite their hardships while traveling, on arrival to the festival the pilgrims are met with a 15 square mile temporary tent city, featuring food stalls, hospitals, portable toilets, fire and police service. The pilgrims partake in many religious events as sermons, musical performances and of course, the opportunity to bathe in the sacred river. Another integral part of the Mela are the Sadhus (holy men), who are sought out by the pilgrims for their blessings and enlightenment. Naga Sadhus are typically naked except for ash smeared all over their bodies. They take a vow of celibacy and renounce all worldly possessions. Urdhwavahurs, another type of Sadhu, perform rigid spiritual practices such as holding an arm up for years on end. The Sadhus can be seen almost continuously smoking marijuana, which they claim helps them with their own enlightenment. To experience the Kumbh Mela is to witness the power of faith bringing Hindu devotees of all various castes peacefully together in a celebration of spirituality. Indeed, in 2017 UNESCO listed the Kumbh Mela as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Roma was picked up by Los Angeles animal control after being found dragging herself around the streets, unable to use her hind legs. She was brought to a shelter, where the staff assumed she had been hit by a car. X-rays soon revealed however that Roma had a bullet lodged in her spine, rendering her paralyzed. After receiving an urgent call from the shelter, the LA based rescue Dogs Without Borders pulled Roma and initiated a complete medical workup. She later spent several weeks at CAR (California Animal Rehabilitation) and underwent physical therapy, acupuncture, ice therapy, and fitting for a wheelchair. After spending months with several fosters, Roma was finally adopted into a loving home in 2024.

On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, I worked with Save-a-Sato, a street dog rescue and shelter in San Juan. Founded 26 years ago by Gloria Marti and once only her home and yard, the shelter is now housed in a local abandoned school. This is a necessity as they currently harbor about 400 dogs. With the help of staff and volunteers Marti maintains the shelter 365 days a year. Most of the dogs I photographed this day were adopted at an event two weeks later.