Puerto Rico, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, and a journey filled with love

This past October, I had the opportunity to join Lucky Dog Animal Rescue on a trip to Puerto Rico, alongside 7 incredible volunteers from all around the world. And even though today I’m finally finding the words to share it… the truth is, this trip left me completely speechless.

From the moment I landed in San Juan, I understood that this wasn’t just a volunteer assignment… it was a journey of human connection, of giving, of deep empathy, and of receiving infinitely more than I ever imagined. 😊

Puerto Rico is culturally rich… a blend of roots, stories, and energies that come together to create a vibrant and truly unique identity. And you feel that richness even more when you meet people who, despite going through challenging personal situations, remain present, steady, and willing to give their whole hearts to improve the lives of animals. People who do so much with so little, and whose dedication reminds you that human kindness is an unstoppable force.

And I think that has been the essence of this entire journey: in every shelter, in every community, in every story… feeling how much we were learning about the real challenges of animal welfare in Puerto Rico, but also about the resilience, creativity, and passion of the people who carry this work on their shoulders every single day.

We certainly did hard physical work, yes, but every effort turned into something tangible and meaningful. Knowing that Twix, a cat abandoned in the street, will sleep inside a home again with a family. Knowing that Mars, a puppy rescued from the streets, will never sleep in the rain again. Knowing that an indoor space at Mercy for Satos was transformed to improve the quality of life of the dogs living there, or that the dogs at Love4Satos now have a new outside area to enjoy.

But without a doubt, the most rewarding part was knowing that before, during, and after our time there, the local teams felt supported. Nothing compares to that. We were lucky to experience, with our own eyes, the incredible support Lucky Dog gives to every organization we visited. But what touched us even more was discovering everything that had already been done long before we arrived, and everything that would continue to happen long after we have gone.

I will always remember reading in our Briefing Book: “In Puerto Rico, personal space may be closer than in other cultures…” What a fantastic privilege it was to experience that non-personal space. Those hugs, those smiles, that touch on the shoulder that says: “Thank you for being here, in my country, helping us.” That way of connecting truly changes your life!

To my volunteer team: Roman, Johanna, Yadira, Alanna, Alura, Fiona, Ellie, Tara and Annette; to Lucky Dog: Mirah & Michelle; and to every organization we visited: THANK YOU. It was an absolute honor to work alongside you. For 10 days we joined forces, hands, and hearts, and we shared moments we will carry with me forever.

And a very special thank you to the Pedigree Foundation: Deb & Meg, thank you for honoring us by choosing us for this MAP assignment… and let me say: you couldn’t have chosen a better partner than Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. I truly hope this was the first assignment of many, many more to come. You have made us happy forever! 

And finally… Puerto Rico taught me that when you give, you always receive twice as much.