Puerto Rico’s Tito’s Flies Out Perros Y Gatos

Last week 300 homeless pets from Puerto Rico were flown to a second chance at life in New York and Maine. The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue spirited 165 dogs and 135 cats from the island's overcrowded animal shelters, with a boost from an unlikely source – Tito's Handmade Vodka.

“We are thrilled to be the main transportation link in this impressive one-day rescue effort to save 300 lives and bring happiness and joy to countless families and individuals,” Ric Browde, President of Wings of Rescue, said to People magazine.

Life is hard for stray animals in Puerto Rico, where there are about 500,000 dogs on the streets. There are only five shelters for all 78 municipalities on the island, but these places will euthanize 95 percent of the rescues (sic) that end up there.

The Sato Project has been on the ground in Puerto Rico since 2011,  rescuing more than 6,000 dogs from the streets and beaches and bringing them to new lives in the mainland. California-based Wings of Rescue saves pets all over North America and has flown more than 64,000 animals in need since 2012.

Last week’s rescue was sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which supports all kinds of worthy causes but has a particular fondness for canines, as evinced by their “Vodka for Dog People” project.

When the animals arrived at White Plains, New York, and Portland, Maine, 60 of the dogs had new families waiting for them at the gate. The remaining dogs and cats are now up for adoption at local shelters.

Among the dogs was a mixed-breed puppy named Tito, now a mascot of the “freedom flights.” We can excuse the gushy advertising for such a worthy cause. Pop in to the vodka makers’ website for more info, to donate, or buy dog-related merch.

Photo credit: Woof Republic