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.