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Sophie Gamand
Executive Coordinator, Official Photographer, Creative Director
My photography has never been so strong, and meaningful.[/column]
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Chrissy and I are neighbors. That’s how we met early 2012. I had just started a Pet Photography business (www.StrikingPaws.com) and I was looking to volunteer some of my time and skills in shelters. I always thought photography had an immense power to help dogs find forever homes. Chrissy and I met one day for lunch. It was probably the toughest job interview I’ve ever had!
A few weeks later, she called me and said: “I am going to PR in a few days. Are you in?”. Of course I was. I dropped everything I was doing and flew with her. My first contact with the island and the dogs was Angel. It was such a heartbreaking story, a very hard way to jump into The Sato Project. It was a shock for me to keep photographing and filming a dying dog, and Chrissy’s pain. How could I keep shooting this horrific moment? How could I not?
After that first trip, maybe because of how sleep-deprived we both were, Chrissy thought I could become a more permanent member of The Sato Project, and so I became its Executive Coordinator. Since then, I accompany Chrissy in her PR trips. I support her in her executive decisions, and I create all the communication material of The Sato Project (brochures, calendar, business cards, website, fliers, etc.).
The Sato Project is a very unique rescue group. Chrissy’s amazing personality and charisma are just irreplaceable. No one can do what she does as well as she does it. My photography has never been so strong, and meaningful. It’s been a fantastic experience so far, and I am very proud to be a member of The Sato Project!
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Bianca M. Aguirre Hernández
Veterinarian
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Meryl Alexander
Adoption and Foster Coordinator
The best part of what I do is seeing our satos happy with their new furever families![/column]
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In 2009 I read about the daily horrors and abuse of satos on Dead Dog beach in Puerto Rico. I was heartbroken and angry and decided I wanted to do more than make a donation. I began volunteering for a rescue organization in Puerto Rico as the Foster Care and Adoption Coordinator but I was always reading about all the wonderful work that Chrissy was doing at Dead Dog Beach. In November of 2011, I reached out to Chrissy because I wanted to work with her directly. Chrissy and I met for the first time for lunch and 4 hours later I became part of her team as the Foster Care and Adoption Coordinator for The Sato Project. I also coordinated our First Sato Project Fundraiser in Long Island in April of this year. We will now have an annual Long Island Sato Project Fundraiser every year.