They lived to wag their tails another day.
More than 50 stray dogs from storm-ravaged Puerto Rico arrived in New York hoping to find a loving home after surviving the storm.
Some were left to die trapped in their crates while others suffered from heart-worms and eye infections, said Tiffany Lacey, executive director of the Animal Haven in downtown Manhattan.
“Some were street dogs,” she said. “Some were sadly owner-surrendered. As we all know the situation in Puerto Rico is pretty dire. And there are a lot of people who could simply not keep their pets anymore.”
Lacey cracked a smile watching Sansa and Gordo, 2-month-old siblings, wrestle in one of the shelter’s viewing rooms. The energetic puppies didn’t betray any scars from their rough origin.
“These two, they there were street dogs,” Lacey said. “This is very typical of the adorable, highly adoptable dogs we get from the Sato Project.”
The dogs were rescued from Puerto Rico by the John and Wendy Neu Family Foundation and The Sato Project. The foundation flew a cargo plane with humanitarian and animal aid supplies and returned with dogs rescued by The Sato Project.
“After Maria hit, what we are hearing, is that there aren’t many dogs left,” Lacey said. “Sadly, many didn’t make it.”
On Sunday, the dozens of dogs wagged their tails and jumped with joy when they saw a potential human parent lock eyes with them.
Lacey said she’s happy these four-legged pals didn’t end in Dead Dog Beach, an area where dogs are left to die on the island.
The batch of adoptable dogs includes three pit-bull mixes who were trapped in their crates on a hilltop home.
Taylor, Changa and Ollie looked battered, skinny and were still recovering from skin rashes.
But the trio immediately wagged their tails when they saw visitors.
“The rescuers weren’t even sure they were still alive when they found them,” Lacey said. “It’s a whole different world here, right guys?”
The rescue group is trying to get as many of the dogs adopted soon.
Ilan Pillo, 40, from Fort Green, brought his two daughters, Jennifer, 11, and Natasha, 7, to look for potential dogs.
“She’s mine! She’s mine! I want this one!” Natasha said when she spotted a yellow puppy named Holly. “She’s so cute!”
Their dad said they have to look some more before making a final decision.
“I think it’s good that they were rescued from Puerto Rico,” he said. “They deserve good homes. She wants them all. We’ll see.”
Some of the dogs have been reunited with the owners who were forced to fly to New York and leave their dogs behind.
“They are all pretty adoptable,” Lacey said. “If they hadn’t made it here, many of them would not have been able to survive in Puerto Rico.”
With Reuven Blau
