Island Dog, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building animal friendly communities in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Vieques and Culebra.  We are an animal welfare organization focused on raising public awareness concerning the suffering and cruelty animals endure in our own United States Caribbean Islands.  Our mission is to: provide rescue & rehabilitation services for abused/adoptable animals; establish clinics offering free or low cost spaying/neutering; disburse educational information, teaching animal welfare and proper pet care to schools and communities; advocate shelter adoptions and responsible pet ownership; prevent unwanted litters; and rally for animal rights in these societies.

There are an estimated 200,000 homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets and beaches of Puerto Rico.  With 4 shelters/4 control agencies on an island the size of Connecticut, 90% of these animals will either die of starvation, illness, or murder.  Hundreds of carcasses can be found lining the roads and thousands more are buried in the sand.  With almost no help from the Puerto Rican or U.S. governments, the island's animal crisis continues to grow out of control.  You can help STOP the violence and devastation.  Join us as we build animal friendly communities in these societies. 

Sponsor a Flight: The average cost of sending an animal can range from $120 to $400-depending on airline, availability and health certificate.  Dogs and cats do not need to be quarantined to fly stateside.  Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are part of the United States and therefore only require a health certificate to fly stateside.

Escort a Pet:  If you are flying home from San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, or St. Croix, and have a direct flight into your city,  you can help us by escorting a pet to its new home.  Simply contact us with your travel plans.  We will transport the pet to the airport and check them in on your plane.   Once your plane lands a person from our stateside shelter will greet you at the airport to take the pet.   The entire process is easy for both you and the pet, and it costs you nothing.  Helping to save a pet's life is a great way to end your vacation!  

Sponsor a Horse: Horse abuse is rampant in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  Starvation, beating, and poisoning are common killers of horses in the islands.  Most locals are uneducated about the cost of caring for horses.  Many come to acquire a horse by finding one along the street or beach.  Some are stolen out of pastures,etc.  However the horse is acquired, proper nutrition, water, and veterinary care are essential for survival.  We need your help to educate people about horses and care for those who have been mistreated.  Please consider a recurring monthly donation of $25 or more to help provide the water, food, shelter and love that every horse deserves!

Adopt a Classroom: We strongly believe that education is the key to ending animal cruelty.  With the help of programs developed by the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA, Island Dog has created a step-by-step educational plan to implement humane animal treatment lessons in every classroom in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  Teaching children the importance of treating animals humanely instills early on the importance of caring about all living creatures and helps prevent future cruelty to animals and fellow human beings.  With a gift of $30 you can adopt a classroom for one year.

Sponsor a Beach: Situated along the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, lies Yabucoa.  The animals abandoned or born on the Yabucoa coast are destined to die a painful death.  On a daily basis animals are being poisoned,  beaten, or butchered to their demise.  The animals on this beach and other beaches throughout Puerto Rico are desperate to be rescued and receive the loving care we believe every animal deserves.  With your contributions we can establish a rescue center in Yabucoa and other communities with similar needs.  We can teach children that torturing and killing animals is wrong.   We can give parents resources to educate themselves and their kids about caring for their pets, inevitably creating support systems for both people and animals.  Please consider a gift of $100 to help build a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals - everyone deserves a place to call home. 

Send a Letter to the Governor: The most important act you can do to help animals in Puerto Rico is print and send our letter to the Governor.  For the cost of one U.S. stamp you can voice your concern.  Please feel free to add your own thoughts and comments to our letter.  The future of animals in America's Caribbean is in YOUR hands. 

Send a Letter to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company: Let them know why you won't visit the Island.

Honorable Luis Fortuno
P.O. Box 9020082
San Juan, PR  00902

Dear Honorable Luis Fortuno:

I strongly urge you to address the disturbing and horrific state of animal welfare on your island.   Please help by taking the much needed leadership to find a humane solution to the island's animal overpopulation and cruelty issues.  Puerto Rico has the potential to be a premier tourist destination, but no one wants to vacation where the practice of beating and poisoning animals is rampant because there are no shelters, control agencies, or repercussions for torturing animals.

Please help - your attention to this important matter is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
(your signature)

Ms. Terestella Gonzalez Denton
Tourism Office
Puerto Rico Main Office
La Princesa Bldg. #2 Paseo La Princesa
Old San Juan, P.R. 00902

Dear Ms. Gonzalez Denton,

I urge you to address the disturbing, horrific state of animal welfare on your island. As a tourist I am appalled by the lack of humanity for animals living on your "Isle of Enchantment."  Unfortunately, Puerto Rico is more like an island of disenchantment. Please help by taking the much needed leadership to work with the government to find a humane solution to the island's animal overpopulation and cruelty issues. We also recommend developing "beach clean up programs" to maintain healthier/safer environments for tourists. No one wants to vacation where the practice of beating and poisoning animals is rampant. Furthermore, tourists cannot relax on beaches infested with rotting animal corpses and trash.

Sincerely,
(your signature)