The dogs ran wild on so-called “Dead Dog Beach” in Puerto Rico — abused and then abandoned by their owners.
Then the hurricane hit, and the feral dogs were washed away. None survived.
Christina Beckles, a New Yorker who founded a nonprofit to save the slum dogs of Puerto Rico, flew to the devastated island after the hurricane to assist her staff at the Sato Project and whatever dogs they could help.
“Once the hugs and tears were over, the first thing we all wanted to do was go to the beach to look for our feral dogs,” Beckles wrote on Facebook.
“Sadly, we did not find them and our hearts are heavy with the reality upon seeing the utter devastation at the beach — they did not survive.”
The island of 3.4 million people is without electricity, and water, and looters have taken over as police and the National Guard enforce a strict 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew — leaving Americans in chaos, abandoned by their government.
“It’s a war zone,” Beckles said by email. “There is no power or water. We are under curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Food is becoming scarce and people are getting desperate. Looting has already begun. The lines to get gas are seven to ten hours long — to receive $10 worth of gas.”
Beckles’ own home in Puerto Rico was also destroyed.
“It has a tree on it and is 6 feet under water,” she said.
“The water became contaminated a few days after the storm. The Mayor of San Juan evacuated the area on Saturday due to the serious health issue the water now presents.”
Her home was filled with raw sewage when she returned Tuesday.
“We had to wade through thigh high black water to get to it. Everything we own is gone,” she said.
“Today, Wednesday, we went back and the water level has now RISEN. It has not been raining here. There is a park at the end of our block that was flooded and it was pumped out two days ago. Why pump the water out of a park yet leave an entire neighborhood under sewer water? I am not trying to single myself out – I am acutely aware that there are thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of people that have lost everything. They ALL need help now.”
Beckles said that throughout the tragedy, the sense of community is heartening.
“The majority of people are coming together and helping each other. Neighbors are the ones cleaning the streets and moving debris. I feel an incredible sense of community,” she wrote by email.
“Hospitals are running on generators and they are running out of fuel. Yet the largest mall on the island already has power.”
She added that the hurricane hit directly on Dead Dog Beach in Yabucoa.
“The municipality suffered the loss of 99% of their buildings. We were caring for 3 feral dogs there and they have not been seen since 9/19,” she wrote.
“Our team visited the beach yesterday and upon seeing the devastation we believe at this time those dogs have perished. We have rescued three dogs since the hurricane – all dumped during the storm. One is heavily pregnant and was with a small puppy.”
She was told by a security guard for the hotel at the beach that the dogs “were screaming in terror.”
“They are now safe in our care and will be transported off the island on Friday.”
Beckles said that in the first few days after the hurricane, it seemed things might be fine — but help never came.
“We are now 7 days in and nothing is happening. How can anyone feel safe with a curfew in place and looting going on?” she said.
The mayor of San Juan has warned people to stay indoors and not violate the curfew for their own safety.
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