Meet Micah, Kay and Grace: Just a handful of our favorite Shelter pups waiting for their own big day: the day they’ll find their forever homes! Like all satos, each of them have their own special back story and quirks. And (like all satos) they are each lovable and have the same goal: to make us happy!
Since August 18th is Clear the Shelters Day, all sato adoptions now through August 18th are only $50. Let’s meet Kay and Mercy, two doggies waiting for their chance at a family…
Kay: A crazy girl looking for love <3
Kay is hand-down the most attention-grabbing dog at the Shelter! She’s also generated much social media interest and is really a “twitter” all through the Shelter. She loves following whomever happens to be near her, and is just an energetic bundle of love in need of a home all her own.
Here is Kay’s own special Adopt-me video made by one of our volunteers and one of Kay’s favorite peoples!
To see more videos like these, follow us on Facebook!
(If you already are following us and wondering why you didn’t see this video, make you set your setting to see all our posts: Click the Follow button under our cover photo; Check the box marked “See First.” Thanks!)
Back to Kay…
A Twitter follower recently generated this lovely poster (and others!) to help get Kay adopted. We love them and thought we’d share.
Grace: Full of grace, she’s a little lady: independent and sweet
Grace is our quiet little love who we’ve had since mid-April. She’s come out of her shell since then and seems to definitely be a “people” dog: in fact it looks like she might prefer people to her own species. We’ve received a couple adoption interests in Grace, but she’s still waiting for that lucky someone.
Will it be you?
Micah: rescued with an open wound; we are happy to announce he is one step closer to his own Happy Beginning!
Our Shelter Director Adri was on her way back from grocery shopping for the shelter when she saw Micah on Route 187. He was sitting on a mount, perfectly content watching the cars pass by. When Adri approached, he wagged his tail and went up to her. She could see he had a horrible burn on the left underside of his belly, which had left his flesh open to possible infections. She immediately knew we had to take him.
Micah was brought to the vet who medicated the wound and it is now almost healed over! Here is a picture of Micah two months after his rescue getting looked over by a veterinary assistant student from Edic College. On July 31st, Micah is set to make his forever flight to Hearts and Tails Alliance in New Hampshire. We look forward to sharing the first leg of the voyage with you!
If you think you’re the forever mom and dad that will change the world for one of our rescued dogs, email ela@amigosdelosanimalespr.organd we’ll take it from there!
We are also looking for volunteers to give us a hand with getting our pets adopted on Clear the Shelters Day. Let us know if you are available!
By Debra Malinics, adopter of ADLA alum Carmen, the “kisser therapist“
I have owned neurotic dogs, psychotic dogs, crazy dogs, but never one as wonderful, sweet, smart, and loving as Carmen, a sato adopted from Amigos de los Animales through Wag on Inn in Oakhurst, NJ.
When my husband and I walked into the pet store to meet her, this little ball of fur ran right into our laps, licked us and next thing I knew, she was coming home with us. We had found our dog! and she was perfect from the start. We named her Carmen in honor of her Spanish heritage.
At that time, I was on the board of a non profit planning a fashion show fund raiser. I suggested we add a dog or two to the venue, and three weeks later, Carmen stole the show wearing a Burberry coat accessorized with a brown and green braided leash, and behaving absolutely flawlessly.
Carmen on the catwalk with her Burberry coat
On the way across the stage, I dropped her leash, put her is a sit stay command, and kept moving onto the runway. Carmen sat perfectly still, looking out over the audience, her eyes wide with wonder. She was perfectly poised and calm. While I whirled and twirled, Carmen remain seated, looking chic in her outfit. I picked up Carmen’s leash on leaving the stage and we walked off together to the audience’s delight and applause. Many attendees came to ask me how she was so well behaved and what was my secret…I said simply, Los Amigos de los Animales.
Friends kept telling Carmen should be a therapy dog because she emits such love but I didn’t have the time to take her to classes. “She doesn’t need classes,” friends insisted… she’s perfect already! She’ll pass without trying, repeated a friend and bet me $20 that she would. I couldn’t resist.
Carmen giving some kissing therapy
I took Carmen to the next available Therapy dog certification class without any usual classes or preliminary training. Do you have your good citizen papers the woman asked when I registered her. Clueless, I said, “No, no, I’m a citizen.”. Looking at me oddly, she said, “I mean for your dog.” “Oh, she’s a citizen too,” I replied, “she was born in Puerto Rico.” The woman just shook her head and asked me to fill out a form to begin. Carmen was perfect. I lost the bet, but Carmen won the class. Out of 14 well trained dogs, three passed the test and Carmen was one of them. I was so proud!
As a therapy dog, Carmen brings joy and love to children, students and adults. Everywhere I go, people fall in love with her and on her therapy visits, they call her the “Serial Kisser” because she spends her time kissing everyone in the room. Some colleges arrange their schedules around Carmen’s schedule. She has magic and when I look into her eyes, it seems they see into the universe.
When people say how lucky Carmen is to have us, I say, “WE are the lucky ones.” There are so many wonderful ways to share your life and your love and sharing it with an animal is one of the best. Animals make the world a better place for all.
When my husband was ill, Carmen was at his side 24/7, and after his death, she gave her love and support to me when I grieved. Carmen is an ambassador for all good things and I wish the world had more Carmens to set an example for us, the people who need it. Thank you Amigos de los Animales for bringing her into our lives. Now if I can figure out how to clone Carmen…If they did it with Dolly, surely they can do it with Carmen, my kisser therapist.
Here are some links to other articles written about Carmen and her kissing tactics!
One Saturday in July 2015, after the shelter clean up, I was driving home with Lucy, another volunteer, and we got a little lost in the area of Isla Verde. This is when I spotted a small black animal with a white tail down. I remember I was asking Lucy: “Do you think it is a dog or a cat?” We turned to the right and stopped the car to have a better look. We saw a small dirty dog, in an advanced stage of pregnancy and with a hairless tail who was walking along the road just long enough until the cars had passed, so she could then cross the street and check out if there was any food in the trash next to the Llorens Torres ‘caserio’ (the largest housing project in Puerto Rico with some sketchy areas). I remember thinking that she is quite smart crossing the street so carefully. I guess you have to be smart to survive on the streets when you are, you know, a dog.
We tried to approach her but she would quickly hide away. She had her spot in the abandoned house in front of the projects. The house had gates and was locked so we could not enter. A neighbor told us that the owner comes maybe once a week. We left some dry dog food next to the gate and I left my phone number. Nobody called. Lucy and I kept checking on the dog everyday, but she would not let us get close to her. We told Adri, ADLA Shelter Director and my personal hero, about this homeless pregnant dog and one afternoon the three of us, Adri, Lucy and I, equipped with special net (to throw over her) went to catch the dog.
But the dog did not want to leave. Adri, Lucy and I spent 2 hours trying to trap this very stubborn dog, who was growling, showing her teeth and ferociously barking at every attempt we made to approach her. This was a dog who was in an advanced stage of pregnancy, but that didn’t prevent her from running away and passing through the narrow spaces between the fence from one house to another so we could not get to her. The neighbor who was painting his house at the moment got involved in the chase and so did the children from the caserio. We almost gave up. It was SO hot out!!
Ela, the day of her rescue
I insisted on her rescue though…
Finally, Lucy skillfully threw the net over the dog. The dog was trapped! She was covered in white paint, from the paintbrush the neighbor decided to use to stop the dog from running away (which was well-intentioned, if a little messy). Adri decided to name the dog after me, Ela.
We took Ela for a vet examination and found out that on top of the malnutrition, broken and hairless tail, she had demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, anaplasmosis, erlichiosis, and the worst: heart-worm disease. We also noticed her bite was a little crooked (probably caused by being kicked hard in the jaw). Because of her advanced pregnancy the doctor decided to wait with all the treatments until she finished nursing her babies-she gave birth a few days later.
Ela arrives at the Shelter
Once at the Shelter she was given a run, food and water. We left her alone to relax and adjust to her new space.
Post-pregnancy vet visit
At first she didn’t eat the dog food so I remember cooking rice with meat for her. Robinson, Adri’s husband, was the one who’d come every day to feed Ela and clean her space. He gained her trust. But not Adri, not Lucy and not me – we were afraid of Ela’s bite as she growled at us and would show her teeth.
On Friday, August 7, 2015, Ela gave birth to 5 pups. During nursing Ela’s skin problems worsened and she lost most of her hair. After 6 weeks with her pups, when they were big enough to be separated from their mom, we were able to start her on treatments for her multiple health problems.
One day I was giving Ela a bath in the solution of sulfur and lime (for the sarcoptic mange) and one of the volunteers said “she looks kinda like a chupacabra ... it’s true, she didn’t look good at that time. I also have distinct memories when I took her to the vet for the vaccinations and skin treatments. She mentioned twice that I could put the dog down…I coudn’t believe it! It made me so angry. If I pick up a dog from the street and bring her to the doctor, it is because obviously she needs medical help; it is not to euthanize her, it is to cure her! How dared she even mention it?
As a Shelter dog, Ela was initially timid with people; she just plain did not trust them and did NOT want them approaching her. But, she LOVED dogs, the bigger, the better. She was the only small dog out with the big ones, and she was the most intimidating, ferociously guarding the Shelter and her dog friends.
Adri would say: “Ela insists she is a big dog… Imagine, someone will fall in love with Ela one day and let her sleep on their bed...”
I was very skeptical of this…
Ela’s pups
Ela gave birth to 5 pups: Charlie, Nala, Bongo, Kimba and Keisi. After 6 weeks of being breast-fed by their mom, they were moved to a separate space, a little baby cradle Adri placed next to her kitchen. They all had some skin problems and some worms, which is quite common for pups and Adri was taking care of them with all the resources she had.
One Saturday morning my friend Amanda decided to join us for the clean up. It was her first time. I remember I used to tell Amanda about Adri, how she is my hero, how charismatic she is and how she has this unexplainable amount of energy to put towards saving dogs and the trust that all will turn out well at the end, and that God will take care of us.
But the day Amanda came, Adri was not like herself. She was cranky, low energy and disheartened. I’ve learnt later why she was so depressed: earlier that day she found Nala, one of Ela’s 5 pups, dead. She buried Nala somewhere in the backyard of her mom’s house (the house she turned into the shelter).
Did Nala have to die? Ever since I met Adri she was struggling to keep the shelter running with extremely limited financial resources, all donations from friends and supporters she was able to make and keep over the years. But these were simply insufficient compared to the need, to the never-ending number of homeless dogs you encounter on the streets. And it is very difficult to plan when you have to rely on donations, on the good will of people. At the time I started volunteering at the shelter, there were 116 dogs housed there. Adri is an angel in human skin, always sensitive to animal suffering, she wanted to save them all.
On the balance, at the vet office
Charlie being examined
The day Nala died, I took the remaining 4 pups to the vet. The doctor was kind enough to save my costs by only examining one pup and treating the rest for the same condition. He did the exam and blood tests on Charlie, the smallest one. Kimba, Bongo and Keisi received the same medicine. Everybody started getting better.
A few weeks later, sometime in September 2015, Adri was fighting the highly infectious parvovirus manifestation at the shelter. Adult dogs, vaccinated against parvo, usually can survive the infection. But puppies, whose immune systems are not yet developed, are an easy kill for the virus. To treat the sick pups and to not transfer the virus, every person at the shelter had to follow rigorous procedure: wear gloves, gowns and disinfect everything each time, including the shoes. It is a deadly virus and very easy to transmit. Ela’s pups were not affected thus far and I asked Adri if I could take them home to make sure they did not catch parvo. And that’s how I brought Ela’s 4 pups to our penthouse in old San Juan. I must say they were quite a bit of work but at the same time a real bunch of joy! Here is one of the videos I took:
Ela’s pups stayed with me til the virus at the shelter was stopped and it was safe to bring them back.
Me, Leo, Kimba & Bongo
It is easy for me to get attached to a dog. Or to 4 dogs. I think it was mutual. I wish I could have kept them all…After a few weeks I brought them back to the shelter with a heavy heart. Afterwards, each time I would go to the shelter they would go crazy seeing me; and I wanted to spend all my time with them.
Keisi and her new parents in NY
Soon Charlie was adopted by a family of teachers who came to volunteer at the shelter. Later I took Kimba and Bongo again to my home for a visit, and here they stayed till now… Keisi, the biggest of the four, flew to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, in NY and in August 2017 was adopted by a young couple. Keisi was always very special to me. I hope one day I will hear from her parents.
Ela’s Adoption!
After few months at the shelter Ela gained weight and her coat grew back dark chocolate brown and shiny.
But it was after many more moons when Ela learned to trust, I believe, for the first time in her life. She became such a sweet girl, loved to be picked up and hugged. She responded to her name and loved to kiss (aka lick) – we never thought we would see this day: that she would trust a human again. She was ready to be adopted!
In September 2017, right after Hurricane Maria which devastated the island, Ela’s future adopter got in touch with us. The wonderful Martha Bozeman already had three doggy kids and was looking for a fourth. Ela turned out to be the one!
After much finagling considering the hardships Puerto Rico was going through, lack of flights and resources, we were able to fly Ela with a volunteer, to Martha in Orlando, Florida. At the time of her adoption Ela was around 3.5 yrs old.
Martha said, on Oct 29th 2017: “Ela the dog arrived in Orlando last night….I think she will be happy here. I know we are happy to have her.
On the picture below you can see Martha, Rich with their dogs. From right to left: Molly, Olivia, Lily and Ela. Lily, the 17-year-old chihuahua has been with Martha for 15 happy years but recently she has passed away. RIP, Lily.
Ela with her forever family
Martha on Ela: ““She finally is the big dog she always thought she was”
“Very gentle dog……. really the best personality overall of any of mine as I said. I am hoping her calmness rubs off on two of my other ones on our walks as they always have to put on a show if we pass other dogs.…She could teach all three of them better manners. She is so good and sweet to everyone”
Ela sleeping in bed…
And Adri’s Prediction came true: ELA WAS SLEEPING IN BED WITH HER HUMANS! Ela likes to sleep under the blanket between her parents and two of the other three dogs (she’s the biggest of them all), and most mornings she enjoys a belly rub before getting out of bed.
You should have seen my face when I saw the picture of Ela sleeping on the bed under a white blanket…😲 Unbelievable!
Martha: “She continues to do well in adapting to life with us. She initially had a good bit of difficulty walking with the other dogs, but I finally figured out that all she wanted to do was turn in circles periodically on the leash. I think it is a safety thing. She has to turn around and see what is behind her. So I just let her turn in circles periodically, and she seems happy. She continues to sleep with us every night and is such a cuddly dog.”
Ela and her sister Molly. Two tired Easter bunnies…
“My husband Rich and I knew she was warming up to us when we could feel her wet nose on the back of our calves as we were fixing her dog bowl for breakfast and dinner. Her nickname is Moose because she’s as big as a moose compared to the other three dogs and she’s sweet as chocolate mousse.”
“Ela was very quiet for a couple of months and has now starting imitating her sister Olivia who opens up a can of whoop ass on any dog that walks by. So I was hoping Olivia would learn from her, but she has learned from Olivia, and I can’t help but laugh. She is truly part of the pack now.”
That is really funny because her children, Kimba and Bongo, do the same when I walk them!
We always thought Ela was a chihuahua mix, probably because of her ears, but according to her DNA results, Ela is 62.5 % Min-pin, 12.5% Chow Chow, 25% Mixed breed.
Martha: “and 100% Love Muffin!”
Chupacabra? Or Love Muffin, Moose, Chocolate Mousse, Mellow Mushroom ? As Martha likes to call her…
I’m so happy it was Martha who adopted Ela. I have never met her in person, but I know she is a very compassionate human being. It is so good to know this small, once homeless dog, the mother of my 2 dogs, is truly loved and cherished by her humans.
Ela in Florida, “surveying her kingdom”
To all our supporters for making these beautiful stories a reality! Every dog deserves a safe place to rest its head and we couldn’t be prouder to do our part to achieve this.
Cud Kay put her paws up in your home? Can she snuggle up on yur sofa? She wood luff yu furever. Haf yu got room in yur heart & home fur her? She is reddy & waitin fur yu tu make enquirys @ADLAPuertoRico Visit da website fur details #PuertoRico https://t.co/VEFZ1s2st6 #k9hour pic.twitter.com/Ey07h6GK10
he dog. The dog was trapped! She was covered in white paint, from the paintbrush the neighbor decided to use to stop the dog from running away (which was well-intentioned, if a little messy). Adri decided to name the dog after me, Ela.
d out that on top of the malnutrition, broken and hairless tail, she had demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, anaplasmosis, erlichiosis, and the worst: heart-worm disease. We also noticed her bite was a little crooked (probably caused by being kicked hard in the jaw). Because of her advanced pregnancy the doctor decided to wait with all the treatments until she finished nursing her babies-she gave birth a few days later.
After few months at the shelter Ela gained weight and her coat grew back dark chocolate brown and shiny.
