Save A Sato is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to easing the suffering of Puerto Rico's homeless and abused animals. This is the story of the hands and hearts that keep it alive — every single day of the year.
"Sato" is Puerto Rican slang for a street dog. For 30 years, Save A Sato has rescued satos — and cats, and even horses — from the streets and beaches of the island, giving them medical care, food, shelter, and plenty of love.
We help our neighbors care for their pets with food, vaccines, and medical care whenever we can. We help tourists and visitors adopt a rescue and take them home to the mainland. And through it all, Gloria Marti has kept this organization alive — working 365 days a year to run the shelter.
In 2021, our Shelter of Miracles moved to a larger facility in San Juan — room to rescue more lives than ever before. Watch the day it all happened.
Our new home in San Juan cares for more animals than ever — many with nowhere else to go.
Gatolandia, our cat sanctuary, moved fully into the new facility. Alongside hundreds of dogs and cats, we also care for horses and other rescued animals who simply have nowhere else to live.
When an animal has no one and nowhere, Save A Sato is often the last door still open. It's not easy, and it's never enough money — but with volunteers who show up every day, and supporters like you, we keep the door open.
Help us keep going
Two women lead the daily fight — backed by volunteers who give their time, some every day, some whenever they can.
The tireless heart of Save A Sato. Gloria runs the Shelter of Miracles 365 days a year, and has personally nursed countless satos back from the edge.
Working side by side with Gloria to care for the animals and keep the shelter running every day — from newborn kittens to the hardest rescue cases.
Gloria and Raquel don't do this alone. Hundreds of volunteers pass through the shelter — some every week, some just once — cleaning kennels, walking dogs, helping at vaccine clinics, and carrying in supplies. And donors keep the food bowls full.
Some come every week for years. Some come once with their school or their office. Both matter — 500 dogs and 600 cats need feeding, cleaning and attention every single day, holidays included.
Want to help? Write to us →Bags of food, cleaning supplies, medicine, and money for vet bills. We receive no government funding — everything that keeps this shelter open arrives because someone decided to send it.
See what we need →Behind every rescue is a life that was hurting, and a second chance that changed everything. We share these stories — the hard ones and the happy endings — every week with our community.
Our work has connected us with animal advocates around the world, including "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan during a Puerto Rico event.
Gloria was featured by WAPA TV celebrating 30 years of rescuing lives and fighting animal abandonment in Puerto Rico.
Watch the interview (Spanish) →Save A Sato is a federally recognized non-profit organization. Your donations may be tax-deductible.
Every dollar goes straight to the animals — food, medicine, shelter, and a second chance. Thirty years on, the need is greater than ever.
Donate now