Rescue Flight Saves 75 Homeless Pets and Flies Them to Their New Families on New Year's Eve

Mar. 15, 2025

A dog from The Sato Project’s recent rescue flight.Photo:Alex Lloyd

Alex Lloyd

A group of stray dogs and cats celebrated the new year in new homes thanks to the efforts of dedicated rescuers.

On the morning of Dec. 31,The Sato Projectchartered a plane to fly 75 animals collected from the streets of Puerto Rico to new adoptive homes in the northeastern U.S. The organization scheduled the rescue flight ahead of time, so the group pressed on when Puerto Rico experienced a power outage that affected most of the island on the morning of New Year’s Eve. Rescuers ensured that all of the pets safely traveled from San Juan to Morristown Airport in New Jersey.

“However, when it comes to the fight against the overpopulation crisis, my team and I know how to take a punch and still come back out swinging. Seventy-five satos and gatos made it to the mainland successfully despite the blackouts because of our staff and our incredible community of supporters, volunteers, adopters, and fosters,” Beckles added, calling the dogs “satos” a team used in Puerto Rico for street dogs.

After the long New Year’s Eve journey, which included a refueling stop in Florida, all 75 pets deplaned in New Jersey without issue and found adopters and fosters eagerly awaiting their arrival. Volunteer photographers were present to capture beautiful shots and video footage of the new happy families meeting for the first time.

According to a release from The Sato Group, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Puerto Rico’s homeless pets, the island is home to an estimated 650,000 stray dogs. Thirteen years ago,The Sato Projectstarted rescuing abused and abandoned dogs and has found families for over 7,500 homeless pets since.

The New Year’s Eve rescue flight was The Sato Project’s response to a successful Giving Tuesday campaign — donations from the campaign funded renovations on propertythat The Sato Project recently purchased to use as a “Sanctuary” space for its rescue animals.Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgansupportedthe effort.

A dog getting cuddles after The Sato Project’s Dec. 31 rescue flight.Alex Lloyd

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source: people.com