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.
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.
