With limited adoption capacity on the island, many dogs rely on transport to the mainland U.S. to find homes.
Most people have seen a stray dog on the street and wondered what happens next. The reality depends a lot on where the dog is found and who finds it. Here is what the rescue process typically looks like, and how we are working to improve it in Puerto Rico.
Step 1: The Dog Is Located and Assessed
The first step is finding the animal and doing a quick assessment. Is it injured? Sick? Approachable? Rescuers evaluate the dog’s condition to decide the safest way to help. In Puerto Rico, many stray dogs are found near busy roads, wooded areas, or, in places like Ceiba, around former military bases where animal populations have grown over time.
Step 2: Trapping or Safe Retrieval
If the dog is injured or fearful, rescuers use humane traps to bring it in safely without causing more stress or harm. For friendlier dogs, direct handling may be possible. Either way, the goal is to get the animal to safety as calmly as possible.
Step 3: Veterinary Care
Once the dog is secured, veterinary evaluation is the next priority. This includes checking for injuries, illness, and parasites, as well as determining whether the animal has been spayed or neutered. At Estancia Tanamá, we help connect rescued animals with the veterinary care they need, including surgery when necessary.
Step 4: Foster Placement
After medical treatment, most animals are not ready for permanent adoption right away. Foster care gives them time to recover, decompress, and adjust to life in a home environment. We coordinate foster placements before and after surgery so animals have consistent, stable care throughout the process.
Step 5: TNR for Animals Returned to the Community
Not every stray dog or cat can be placed in a home right away. For animals that are healthy but not yet ready for adoption, trap, neuter, and release (TNR) is a humane solution that helps control the stray population over time. We currently fund TNR efforts across Puerto Rico in partnership with rescuers from the east coast.
How You Can Help
The stray dog rescue process takes a full network of people, rescuers, fosters, vets, and donors working together. If you want to be part of that network in Puerto Rico, here are two ways to get started.
Donate to Support Our Rescue Work
