Puerto Rico faces a big problem. An estimated 500,000 dogs and cats are homeless. These animals are abandoned, neglected, and desperately in need of help. Fortunately, there are hundreds of rescuers working around the clock to provide necessary medical services to help end the suffering of strays.  

These rescuers, however, face another major obstacle — transporting the dogs and cats to the contiguous U.S. Sadly, the majority of the dogs that are not small enough to fit in a carry-on bag are left to struggle on the streets and perpetuate the stray overpopulation. Or, they eventually find their way to overcrowded shelters to be almost immediately euthanized. These babies will never experience life in a loving home. It’s hard to imagine that we cannot do better for our animals.  

With 3.2 million residents on the small, U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico, the people cannot possibly absorb the number of stray animals. Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of spaying and neutering that is contributing to this predicament. Many residents do not even have access to a veterinarian. With a median household income of around $20,000 and vet care costing only slightly less than in the U.S., it’s easy to understand why so many Puerto Ricans are not able to afford to sterilize their pets.   

After Hurricane Maria in 2017, animals weighing over 20 pounds were no longer allowed to fly. Many families were forced to leave their beloved dogs behind as they fled an island that lacked basic essentials such as electricity and running water. Pets, which are members of the family, were released on the filthy and flooded streets as desperate families fled.  In late 2019 to early 2020, unprecedented earthquakes inflicted ruin to the southwest coast of the island.  More families left. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in the first part of 2020, all pet in cargo services were once again suspended. Unsterilized pets are still abandoned every day and the stray overpopulation is a crisis.  So bad that strays are being poisoned or shot.  Rescuers are operating at maximum capacity. 

During the pandemic, Puerto Rico became a popular travel destination. Many tourists that visited and witnessed the terrible stray problem were willing to adopt but lacked a feasible and humane way to get their pet off the island.   

Currently, Puerto Rico has two air transportation choices for larger dogs which have limited destinations, temperature restrictions, are unreliable and / or very expensive. These arrangements can be a gamble, a logistical nightmare, and are not practical. The animals are constantly at the mercy of the airlines or government when loving handlers try to get them to a better life. We are incredibly grateful to have the few resources available and realize there are considerable challenges with animal transport, but there must be more options!  Don't you agree?

It’s time for all major airline carriers to resume allowing pets to fly in cargo on passenger flights as well as all freight flights departing the island!  The airlines are one of the most important factors in ending animal overcrowding and suffering on islands. Pet owners and rescuers need you!  Puerto Rico and neighboring Caribbean islands need you!  Help the suffering animals. Let these babies fly!