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The SATO Project to Fly Rescue Dogs to Freedom this Holiday Weekend

June 29, 2020 • Rescue

THE SATO PROJECT JOINS FORCES WITH WINGS OF RESCUE, FREEKIBBLE.COM AND GREATERGOOD.ORG TO FLY 250 RESCUE DOGS TO FREEDOM ON INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND
 
TETERBORO, NJ – The Sato Project is collaborating with Wings of Rescue, Freekibble.com and GreaterGood.org on an unprecedented airlift of 250 rescue dogs from Puerto Rico to the East Coast. On July 3rd, a chartered plane will bring emergency relief supplies from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to San Juan, PR. In the early hours of July 4th it will fly back to mainland with 150 dogs destined for shelter partners. That evening, it will return once more to San Juan to pick up an additional 100 dogs and complete its journey in Teterboro, New Jersey—where the dogs will be welcomed by adopters, some of whom have waited six months to bring their new family members home.
 
There is a stray dog epidemic in Puerto Rico, where an estimated 500,000 roam the streets and municipal shelters average a 94% euthanasia rate. For nearly a decade, The Sato Project has rescued, rehabilitated, and flown 4,000+ rescue dogs to the Northeast. COVID-19 drastically impaired rescue and transport missions; stay-home orders and travel restrictions stranded adoptable dogs on the island since March. Meanwhile, adoption rates have increased dramatically on the mainland and the demand for adoptable dogs is high. 
 
Almost all 250 dogs being evacuated were rescued from the streets Puerto Rico, pulled from overburdened municipal shelters impacted by recent earthquakes, or saved from severe hoarding and abandonment cases. These healthy, friendly dogs have health certificates signed by licensed veterinarians and—if not already matched with families—are candidates for immediate adoption. The Independence Day transport also includes several dogs traveling as a part of The Sato Project’s No Dog Left Behind program, which has reunited 200 pets with their families who were displaced by Puerto Rico’s multiple natural disasters. 
 
Wings of Rescue has been flying from Puerto Rico for over three years, and since Hurricane Maria devastated the United States Territory, has flown over 50 flights carrying more than 4,000 pets to safety and bringing in over 140,000 pounds of humanitarian and pet aid.
 
Additional support for this mission is being provided by BARK, The RTA Store, Sidewalk Angels Foundation, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
 
WHEN / WHERE:  
Teterboro Airport
 
SHELTER AND RESCUE PARTNERS: 
Puerto Rico: El Foster Club, We Love Satos, Santuario de Animales San Francisco de Asis, Animal Rescue and Protection Services, Ponce
Mainland: Broward County Humane, Tri-County Animal Rescue, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Boxer Rescue, Inc. 
 
ABOUT THE SATO PROJECT
The Sato Project is dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. Founded in 2011, the 501(c)(3) has transformed the lives of more than 4,000 stray dogs—vetting them to the highest standards and finding them homes in the Northeast. The Sato Project is also addressing the underlying causes of overpopulation via spay/neuter initiatives in underserved communities, and has serviced more than 6,000 companion animals since 2014. And since Hurricane Maria, the organization has distributed more than 100,000 pounds of food and humanitarian supplies to the island. To learn more or support our work, visit TheSatoProject.org or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 
 
ABOUT WINGS OF RESCUE
Wings of Rescue is a donation-based charity flying large-scale transports of at-risk shelter pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster areas to shelters where there is empty kennel space and where no local shelter pets are displaced by the flights. Founded in 2012, Wings of Rescue utilizes volunteer pilots flying rescue missions in their own planes as well as chartered cargo planes to “Let the Fur Fly”. Since its inception, more than 40,000 pets have flown to safety. To donate, please visit Wings of Rescue and Facebook.
 
GreaterGood.org is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Over the last 12 years, GreaterGood.org has given over $250 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 3,000 charitable partners worldwide. To learn more, visit GreaterGood.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
 
ABOUT FREEKIBBLE
Freekibble.com was launched in 2008 as the vision of then 11-year-old Mimi Ausland. Mimi was passionate about animals and wanted to feed the homeless pets at her local shelter. “There are tens of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal”. With this in mind, Freekibble was created and has now donated over 21 million nutritious meals to homeless dogs and cats in shelters, rescues, and food banks across the country. Freekibble is working with Halo, Purely For Pets® and GreaterGood.org to donate the pet food.
 
In 2013, Freekibble Cares was introduced to feature causes that support a variety of animals in need and the people who work so hard to care for them. Today, the Freekibble Network reaches over a million passionate pet-lovers, with over 130,000 daily combined visitors from 114 countries. This loyal community has helped feed and care for hundreds of thousands of animals in need.

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