Sato Project

The Sato Project is an animal rescue and protection organization founded in 2011 by British-born Christina Beckles.

[1] Many of the project's missions have involved airlifting dogs before and after natural disasters, including Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the earthquakes that struck Puerto Rico in 2019 and 2020.

[2][3] "Spayathon" is a spaying and neutering program, attended by Sato Project and other animal rights organizations in Puerto Rico, which has had an impact on the stray dog population.

While strays come in a variety of shapes and sizes, sato dogs are often small to medium-sized, with large ears and stubby legs.

Once logged, the Beach Coordinator will check on these dogs daily and give them food and medicine until space opens up in the Sato Project shelter.

When the dog is finally well enough to travel, volunteers in Puerto Rico help prepare it to fly to either JFK in New York or Newark Airport in New Jersey.

In 2012, Beckles said she was allergic to dogs and required weekly injections but felt that saving Puerto Rico's satos was her passion.

[19][20] By late 2017, with the help of the American Humane Society, and Wings of Rescue, the Sato Project had flown 2,000 dogs from the beach in Yabucoa to locations in the U.S.[21][22] Before and after Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico in September 2017, Beckles evacuated many dogs saving them from certain death.