Puerto Rico has far more rescue animals than can be adopted by the local population, and being an island it’s much harder to transport them to other rescues with more space or even who already have an adopter lined up for the animal. It’s not feasible for volunteers to regularly transport them.
If you are visiting PR, you can sign up to escort a cat or small dog on your return flight. A volunteer meets you at the departure airport with the animal in a carrier, and another meets you at arrival to pick them up. It’s a very easy process since PR is a US territory. The rescue pays for any costs associated with bringing the animal as a carry on, and you get an adorable travel buddy.
This is a little guy named Halo that I escorted a few years ago 🥲 I still think about him and am so happy I got to help him to his new life.
How does this work? I know that PR is an US territory but I imagine there are some quarantine procedures for animals.
Or has all of that been worked out already and you’re just the courier?
Edit: nevermind. My mind skipped past the explanation and went straight for the cute picture.
Volunteers are on both sides of the journey.
No quarantine. Just like flying with a pet from one US state to another. The rescue will pay for extra costs if there are any, but I didn’t have any with my flight.
A volunteer from the receiving rescue met me at the airport when I landed and picked him up before our luggage even came out on the carousel.