Founder and Executive Director of “Hope for Dogs and Cats PR” has spent 29 years as a dedicated school counselor, guiding students with compassion and care.
About Us
Find out who we are and what we do
History
The Rescue was founded in 2019 by Melissa Smith and her son, Jake Leo, after visiting Puerto Rico and seeing that the island was inundated with stray, neglected and abandoned animals. On the last day of their vacation, they met a woman who was feeding stray dogs. They immediately wanted to keep three of the dogs but had no idea how they were going to get them home. Eventually, they got back to New York with the dogs and Melissa Smith began devising a plan to save the strays of Puerto Rico with one of her coworkers, Kylie McCarron. Thus, Hope for Dogs and Cats PR was born.
Goals
- Rescue, Rehabilitate & Rehome Puerto Rico’s abandoned and neglected dogs and cats to loving permanent homes.
- Ongoing Dialog with adopters to assist with adjustment or other challenges in home placements.
- Educate local communities on pet welfare and promoting benefits of Adopt-Don’t-Shop.
Our Organization
With our NY Tri-State Area and Puerto Rico volunteer network* of:
- high school & college students (for Community Service)
- foster caregivers
- veterinarians
- businesses
- trainers
- other shelters
we provide medical care, socialization, and temporary (foster) homes, until these dogs and cats are matched and placed into permanent homes. Then we offer ongoing consultation support to ensure continued success of our adoptions.
* Our organization has no paid employees. In support of our volunteer network and communities, we do sometimes accept local surrenders and over-flow dogs and cats from other shelters in the NY Tri-State area and Southern US.
Meet The Core Team
Co-founder of the Rescue, is actively engaged in running the day-to-day operations of the Rescue.
Co-founder of the Rescue, has been an English teacher for more than 15 years. Her shared values and passion for helping animals brought her together with Melissa and Jake.
Meet Our Board of Trustees
Volunteered and donated regularly to numerous animal rescues and ran a rescue for 10 years, finding homes for about 1,200 dogs.
Melissa started volunteering at adoption events and over time, became one of the Rescue’s Volunteer Coordinators. Being part of the Rescue has brought Melissa more joy and fulfillment than she ever imagined.
Karen started as a volunteer at our adoption events, and now is a regular Volunteer Coordinator.
12
12
Volunteers
600+
600+
Animals
1,453
1,453
Donations
4015
4015
Projects
What People Say
Straight to the goal!
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Great work!
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I’m happy to be a part of this!
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Amazing team!
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Our Goals
Adoption Services
83%
Animal Protection
91%
Spay/Neuter Programs
74%
Humane Education
64%
Return of lost pets to families
95%
Want to get involved?
Contact us
