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19 images Created 7 Jun 2016

The Sato Project

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.
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  • A man registers his dog at a low cost spay and neuter clinic in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, May 5, 2016. The clinic is a joint venture of The Sato Project and Humane Society International.
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  • Dr. Ruiz and his assistant Nicole sedate a dog for sterilization surgery at the spay and neuter clinic in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.
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  • Veterinarian Dr. Jose Cruz performs a sterilization procedure in his fully equipt mobile operating room. He travels throughout the island performing veterinary services.
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  • Sato Project beach coordinator Yvette Fernandez leaves food for a group of feral dogs that  live on Dead Dog Beach, Puerto Rico. She makes the trip to feed the dogs twice a day, rain or shine.
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  • Chrissy Beckles approaches a stray dog in a road near Guaynes Beach, Puerto Rico.  Attempts to rescue the dog were unsuccessful.
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  • Chrissy Beckles attempts to coach a stray dog from under a building at Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • Chrissy Beckles and Yvette Fernandez prepare food for a stray dog found on Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • A stray dog eats food left for him by Chrissy Beckles and Yvette Fernandez at Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • A pack of stray dogs roam Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • Chrissy Beckles meets a pack of stray dogs on Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • Yvette Fernandez, volunteer Beach Coordinator for The Sato Project, feeds a group of strays on Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • Chrissy Beckles coaxes a stray dog found on Guayanes Beach to come to her. The small female was living on scraps  left over from beach visitors.
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  • Chrissy Beckles examines a female stray dog found roaming on Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico. She appeared recently pregnant, but a search for any nearby pups was futile.
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  • Chrissy Beckles places a leash on the small female dog found roaming on Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico. She will now be taken to a veterinary clinic for exam.
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  • Chrissy Beckles holds "Scrappy," a small dog just rescued from Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico.
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  • Scrappy,  just rescued from Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico, is lead into the exam room at the Mi Mascota veterinary Clinic of Dr. Feliciano.
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  • Just rescued from Guayanes Beach, Puerto Rico, Scrappy awaits her first medical exam at the Mi Mascota clinic in Puerto Rico.
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  • A veterinary technician obtains a skin sample from Scrappy's ear to test for mange. She tested positive for mange as well as heartworm.
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  • Several days after her rescue, Scrappy and Dr. Feliciano share a happy moment in the veterinary clinic.
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