Adopt a Sato!

A little face has stolen your heart. The first step is to fill out a mandatory adoption application form which every potential adopter must complete. The questions and reference checks are designed to ensure our dogs go to truly forever homes, and also so that you find a dog that will be the best match for you. Our application review process includes a call to the applicant, a home visit, calls to personal references, and veterinary / landlord references if applicable. We also ask for home videos in lieu of home visits due to COVID-19. Once your application is approved, you can either pick up your new family member at the airport or meet him/her at a foster home.

Don’t have a particular dog in mind? That’s OK. If you are open-minded about the dog you would like to adopt and would like to be matched with one, you can still submit an application form. Many of our dogs are matched to new families before they are ever posted publicly. But if you have specific preferences in terms of breed or size, please email adoption@thesatoproject.org first.

Please see below for answers to some frequently asked questions about our adoptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where can I view your adoptable dogs?
A: Our adoptable dogs can be found right here, as well as on our social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. However, puppies and small dogs are currently in high demand, so they are often matched with existing applicants before they are posted publicly. Please note that we do NOT have physical shelters in NY or PR that allow visitors or volunteers. Once flown to the Northeast, our dogs are either picked up by pre-approved adopters at the airport or go to private foster homes. Only an approved adopter can meet an adoptable dog.

Q: What is your adoption fee?
A: Our adoption fee is $650. All of our dogs are fully vetted to the highest standards of veterinary care, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped, then flown to NJ/NY. This fee represents a small fraction of our overall costs to rescue each dog (our current expenses average almost $3,000 per dog, assuming no illness or injury that needs to be treated). This fee also includes the proper gear, fitted for your sato: harness, martingale collar, and a coupler.

*Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, you might be eligible for a reduced adoption fee thanks to a partnership with ProNet International Gifts and Scholarships. Contact us to learn more.

Q: Can you transport a dog to where I live?
A: We only fly dogs to NY/NJ so our current adoption area spans the Northeast from ME to VA, however approved adopters must be able to drive to meet/pick up the dog in NY/NJ. Unfortunately, we cannot facilitate long-distance adoptions due to a number of logistical challenges and expenses. We encourage you to visit local shelters as there are many wonderful dogs across the US in need of homes!

Q: Can you test your dogs with other dogs, cats, and children?
A: All our dogs are tested with other dogs. If you have cats or children, we are able to test them on a case by case basis. We would never place a dog in a home with cats or children that were not tested with them and deemed safe.

Q: Can you tell me about the personality of the dogs?
A: We can provide information on a dog's personality as we know it at the current time. However, once they arrive from Puerto Rico, personalities can change once they are in a different environment, and most dogs go through an adjustment period. The Sato Project cannot make any guarantees about how the dog will behave once they arrive in their new home, and we recommend that all adopters be prepared with a patient attitude and be ready to work with your dog. To help you transition your dog into your home, we are happy to recommend professional dog trainers. 

Q: Do you offer any assistance after I adopt?
A: Our team is committed to each and every dog’s success. We are happy to offer professional training advice during the decompression period while a dog adjusts to its new home and always check in with all of our new adopters to make sure it is going well. All of our adopters are also invited to join a private adopter’s group on Facebook, where they can ask questions, post updates, share resources and more. This active page is moderated by The Sato Project staff and is a great community for our adopters and our team to stay in touch, network, and support one another. By adding a sato to your family, you become a member of our wider TSP family as well.

Q: What is your policy about returning dogs/taking dogs back?
A: Our Adoption Contract states that if you wish to rehome or surrender the dog you adopted from The Sato Project you are LEGALLY BOUND to contact us first. Adoption is a commitment and adopters must be prepared to care for their new family member for its lifetime. If your dog has behavioral issues, we can recommend dog trainers. We will only adopt to families who are amenable to hiring a professional trainer if the need arises. Our Adoption Contract also states that any dog(s) adopted from The Sato Project must be kept up to date on exams, vaccines, and preventives by a licensed veterinarian. If your dog is returned to The Sato Project, there will be a rehoming fee.

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS ADOPTERS

The State of Massachusetts requires that all rescue dogs entering the state must be quarantined for 48 hours per Animal Health Emergency Order 1-AHO-05. This is required regardless of the fact that The Sato Project quarantines and vets all our dogs to the highest standards before they leave Puerto Rico. 

Adopters living in the state of Massachusetts are required to pick their dogs up from the airport in NY/NJ or at the designated pick up location. You are then required to take your dog to a Massachusetts State approved quarantine facility. The Adopter is required to make arrangements with the quarantine facility prior to the dog’s arrival. The current approved facilities are:

Humane Society and Shelter - SouthCoast, Dartmouth, MA - Melinda Ventura, Mventura6089@comcast.net, 508-995-6661, *Cats and Dogs*

Patrick’s Place (formerly Ven-Elger) - Westport, MA - Nikkilee Condon-Sheehan, patsplacebookingqt@gmail.com, 508-636-8143

Massachusetts State requires a 48 hour hold. After the 48 hour hold a veterinarian will examine the dog and determine if it can be released. The adopter will be responsible for all communications with the quarantine facility as well as picking the dog up when cleared by the veterinarian.

Adopter will be responsible for all fees associated with quarantine. Currently the fee is approximately $120 for 48 hours.