Airlift From Puerto Rico: 120 Dogs Get New Hudson Valley Homes

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The sign on the tarmac read, "Will you be our fur-ever Valentine?" There was no shortage in the Hudson Valley of romantic ways to spend the holiday dedicated to love, but perhaps none quite as special as the arrival of new family members at the Westchester County Airport.

On Saturday, the Sato Project, in collaboration with Wings of Rescue, airlifted 120 homeless dogs from Puerto Rico to the airport in Harrison. The touching rescue was hosted by Million Air at their hangar.

The massive effort sought to combat the homeless dog epidemic in Puerto Rico and give families in the region a chance to share their love. When the most recent "Freedom Flight" landed this weekend, dozens of volunteers helped to unite the recent arrivals with their new families who were eagerly awaiting the special flight.

"It is so rewarding to see each dog go into the arms of their new adoptive family, foster family, or a trusted shelter partner," Sato Project spokesperson Tara Steinberg said. "Now off the streets, these animals will get to experience what it means to be loved for the first time in their lives."

In Puerto Rico, there are an estimated 500,000 homeless dogs roaming the streets and municipal shelters average a 96 percent euthanasia rate, according to Wings of Rescue. The operation has been flying dogs from Puerto Rico for over three years, carrying more than 4,000 pets to safety and bringing in over 140,000 pounds of humanitarian and pet supply aid, organizers said.

This most recent Freedom Flight was part of The Sato Project’s "Love is in the Air" campaign. For every donation made to the campaign, donors were given the option of creating a downloadable Valentine’s Day card, putting a dog's name on the dog’s travel crate or adding a personalized message to the side of the rescue plane.

"Our team at Million Air is grateful every year for the opportunity to host these rescue flights for The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue," Million Air CEO Roger Woolsey said. "We’re happy to provide the space needed for this loving union between Westchester families and their new pets. The work that this organization does is nothing short of miraculous and we were proud to play our small part in this effort over Valentine’s Day weekend."

Those interested can reach out to The Sato Project directly via their website to learn more about how to adopt, donate, or get involved. Interested adopters can also reach out to one of their shelter partners on this flight: Animal Haven, Kent Animal Shelter, or Paws Crossed Animal Rescue.