Yes there is such a place and as its name states it is usually a last resting place for dogs and it is not a happy one. The dogs that die there usually die at the hand of man. Either by starvation, hacked by a machete, poisoned, deliberately run over with a car or ATV, used for gun or crossbow practice – the list of abuse is endless.
We are sorry to paint such a graphic picture. And the most horrific part is – that this beach exists in a commonwealth of the United States: Puerto Rico. A Tourist paradise that hides a horrific secret. There are approximately 250,000 stray dogs on the island – with only 5 shelters to care for them. The kill rate at these shelters is 99%. A dog is lucky to survive 48 hours if they are turned in to a shelter in Puerto Rico. Those who do not make it to a shelter face a far worse fate.
When Chrissy first started working on Dead Dog Beach almost 6 years ago, more than 300 dogs were ‘living’ there. That number is now down to 10. Unfortunately new dogs are dumped there every day. We are their ONLY source of food, fresh water and love and we give it on a daily basis.
The Dead Dog Beach Project aims to end the daily abuse and dumping of dogs on this beach. We have been recently endorsed by the Mayor of Yabucoa as the ‘Official Rescue Group’ of Dead Dog Beach. The Mayor has acknowledged our years of hard work and daily dedication which can be seen directly by the low number of dogs there currently. Signs will be placed in prominent view which will state that the dogs on the beach are under the care of The Sato Project and animal abandonment and abuse is a Federal Offense and punishable to the fullest extent of the Law. We will have a dedicated email address for people to report abuse or to ask for help before they make the decision to dump a dog. The Sato Project is the ONLY rescue group that cares for the dogs of the beach on a daily basis.
The day that Dead Dog Beach is once again know by its official name, ‘Playa Lucia’, will mean victory for the dogs and for The Sato Project. We continue to fight every day for these beautiful angels of Puerto Rico.
We need YOUR help to run this project. Please donate what you can. $5 feeds a dog for a week; $500 gets them off the beach, fully vetted, vaccinated, spayed or neutered and ready to fly to the US to go into a home. Please donate whatever you can – The smallest amount makes a world of difference to a dog that has never known human kindness…
[...] Dead Dog Beach Came across this and it really saddened and disgusted me… Saving the Dogs of Puerto Rico's Ghastly Dead Dog Beach | Dogster The Dead Dog Beach Project | The Sato Project [...]
[...] a particular rescue to showcase in Eli’s article, I would like to ask you to check out the Sato Project and Island Dog rescues of Puerto Rico. There are thousands upon thousands of dogs in need of a [...]
[...] The Sato Project helps rescue abandoned and abused dogs from Puerto Rico. They mainly work at Dead Dog Beach where they rescue the dogs, fully vet them including spay and neuter, and then fly the pups off [...]
I get your updates on FB daily and it is wonderful how many dogs you rescue,care for and transport to the states. I escorted 6 on our trip home from Puerto Rico
I came to website to see if you also support spay and neutering. I have not found any info on this
I hope there is a program there for this. To stop at the source of problem. It seems.like what you do is an easy way for people to be irresponsible and repeat behavior because you are here to rescue them
Thanks for what you do
Hi Lisa,
We do support spay and neutering – all of our adult dogs are spayed and neutered before leaving the island and pediatric puppies are adopted out with a spay/neuter contract. Here is the situation from my perspective – if I can capture a dog to spay or neuter them then I am not about to put them back into whatever hell hole they came from. Before you can spay or neuter there are a number of things that should be done to ensure the dog is healthy enough to go through surgery; blood work, de-worming, parasite testing to name a few. If you put a spayed or neutered dog back on the street they can still be abused or get sick or injured. The moment a dog is rescued by The Sato Project they start our extensive vetting protocol and they become family. I have discussed spaying and neutering and returning the dogs back to Dead Dog Beach but neither my Vet, Bianca or I can do it. The Mayor of Yabucoa recently installed signs at Dead Dog Beach stating that the dogs there were cared for by The Sato Project, and reminding people that animal abandonment or abuse is a crime punishable by Puerto Rican Law 154.
We have rescued over 400 dogs in our first year – all vetted, vaccinated, spayed or neutered and in loving homes. These 400 dogs were left to die on Dead Dog Beach. If they are no longer on the beach they are not reproducing and cannot be subject to the horrific abuse that many stray dogs endure.
well said sato project! truly amazing what you do – THANK YOU!