About TLC Animal Rescue, PR
Our Mission
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Our Mission is to provide a safe, caring refuge for animals; to ensure quality adoptive homes; To advocate for their welfare through compassion, education, creative solutions, and a passion for the human-animal bond.
We serve as a model for animal rescues worldwide. Today, the relationship between humankind and animals is guided by compassion. Pet overpopulation and animal cruelty are being reduced through animal welfare legislation, education of responsible pet ownership, rescue, adoption, non-euthanasia, and mandatory spay/neuter policies.- TLC Animal Rescue, serving Puerto Rico and Florida, was established in 2008 and is run solely by volunteers through the generous help of our supporters and their donations.
- We are here for the welfare of homeless animals. Our priority is to facilitate the rescue and adoption of stray, abandoned, neglected, abused, and surrendered animals and to place them into permanent, loving homes. In the interim, we will provide appropriate foster and veterinary care, proper nourishment, and give them plenty of love and attention.
Program Initiatives
- Because adoption chances for dogs in Puerto Rico are very low (approximately 3%), Once the animals are ready for adoption, we air transport them to cities across the U.S. in order to help them find new families. This is done through partners in the form of shelters or fosters.
Our Volunteers
- 🐾 The Heart of TLCARPR: Why Volunteering Matters
- At TLC Animal Rescue, PR, every wagging tail and gentle purr tells a story of resilience, hope, and love. Since 2008, we've been a sanctuary for animals in need—stray, abandoned, neglected, and abused pets who deserve a second chance. But behind every successful rescue, there's a team of compassionate volunteers who make it all possible.
- 🌟 Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Our Mission
- TLC is run entirely by volunteers. That means every transport arranged, every vet visit scheduled, every foster home coordinated, and every adoption finalized is powered by people who give their time, energy, and hearts freely. Without them, our mission would simply not be possible.
- 🐾 Be a Hero for Paws in Puerto Rico!
- TLC Animal Rescue, PR is 100% volunteer-run, and we need YOU. Whether you can foster, transport, donate, or simply share our mission, every act of kindness saves lives.
- 💌 Email us: tlcanimalrescuepr@gmail.com
- 🌐 Learn more: tlcanimalrescuepr.com
- 📲 Donate via ATH Móvil: TLC ANIMAL RESCUE, PR
- ✨ No experience needed. Just a big heart and a little time. Together, we can change lives—one paw at a time.
About The Founder
- I founded TLC Animal Rescue, PR, in 2008. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- I retired and wanted to start traveling, along with my retired police officer and military veteran, husband, Robert. I was a first time Grandmother and had no plans of making any permanent moves. My last trip to the Island, in 2005. I he noticed the situation with the stray dogs, but, thought, maybe, it was, because I went to a different part of the Island.
- I returned for a vacation in 2006. I was older than I was in the summers, when, I would come home on summer vacations. I was offered a relocation package by one of my old clients. I, spoke to my husband, and we decided it would be part time, and I would travel home, or he would travel to the island. We had Two pets of our own. Jessy and Jorgy. That's where my passion for animals began.
- Since then, I, have rescued and rehomed thousands of animals, along with my rescue partners on the island. Old and New.
Our Mission
- TLC Animal Rescue PR is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization duly registered in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that runs a series of initiatives to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome hundreds of animals every year. These include emergency assistance, transportation, veterinary care and air transport to cities across the U.S.
Why Transport?
- Emergency assistance
- Transportation and veterinary care
- Air transport to U.S. cities for adoption
- They’ve rehomed thousands of animals, thanks to a network of shelters and fosters across the mainland.
- Adoption rates for dogs in Puerto Rico are shockingly low (around 3%).
Overpopulation & Shelter Capacity
- High intake rates often exceed available space.
- Puerto Rico, for example, has an adoption rate of only ~3%, making overcrowding a persistent issue.
- Long stays in shelters can lead to stress and behavioral issues.
TLC Animal Rescue, PR bridges this gap by flying animals to cities where they have a better chance of finding loving homes
Foster, volunteer, or donate everyone can do something
- TLC Animal Rescue, PR is a passionate, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Puerto Rico and Florida, dedicated to saving the lives of stray, abandoned, neglected, and abused animals. Here's a deeper look at what they do and why it matters:
- Limited Funding
- Most rescues rely heavily on donations and grants.
- Veterinary care, food, shelter maintenance, and transport costs add up quickly.
- Without consistent funding, even basic operations can be jeopardized.
- Veterinary Access & Medical Costs
- Animals often arrive injured, sick, or malnourished.
- Specialized care (especially for wildlife or exotic animals) can be expensive and hard to find.
- Spay/neuter programs are essential but costly.
- Behavioral & Socialization Challenges
- Many rescued animals have experienced trauma or neglect.
- They may require time, training, and patience to become adoptable.
- Behavioral issues can deter potential adopters
- Disease Control
- Contagious illnesses like parvovirus or kennel cough can spread rapidly in crowded environments.
- Quarantine protocols and vaccinations are essential but resource-intensive.
- Legal & Environmental Barriers
- Wildlife rescues face strict regulations on handling and releasing animals.
- Urban development and pollution threaten suitable habitats for release.
- Public Misconceptions
- Some people view rescued animals as “damaged” or “risky.”
- Breed-specific stigma and lack of education about adoption contribute to low adoption rates.
Importance of Fostering
- Fostering a pet is essential for several reasons:
- **Saving Lives**: Many shelters are overcrowded, and fostering can help free up space for more animals in need. By providing a temporary home, you give a pet a chance at finding a permanent family.
- **Socialization**: Fostering helps pets become more socialized. They get used to human interaction, other pets, and a home environment, making them more adoptable in the future.
- **Support for Shelters**: Fostering relieves pressure on animal shelters by cutting down the number of animals they need to care for directly. This allows shelters to focus on other vital areas, such as medical care and outreach.
- **Personal Fulfillment**: Fostering can be a gratifying experience. You can bond with the pet, witness their growth and transformation, and feel good knowing you’re making a difference in their life.
- **Decision Making**: By fostering, you allow yourself to assess whether you’re ready to commit to pet ownership. It will enable you to experience the responsibilities of pet care without a long-term commitment.
- **Community Engagement**: Fostering can help raise awareness about animal welfare in your community. When others see you fostering, it may inspire them to consider doing the same or adopting a pet. Overall, promoting not only benefits the animals but also brings joy and fulfillment to the foster/caregivers.
La importancia de Fosters
- TLC Animal Rescue,PR, hace un llamado a corazones compasivos para que abran sus hogares a perritos que necesitan amor y cuidado temporal de manera urgente.
- Estos perritos están esperando a sus familias para siempre, pero mientras tanto, necesitan un refugio seguro: un lugar donde descansar, sentirse amados y comenzar a sanar.
¿No puedes adoptar? ¡Entonces FOMENTA!
Ser hogar temporero es una forma increíble de marcar la diferencia sin un compromiso a largo plazo.
Ya sea que:
Quieras ayudar a salvar una vida
Estés considerando adoptar, pero quieras asegurarte de que sea una buena conexión
O simplemente tengas espacio en tu corazón y tu hogar...
Ser hogar temporero ofrece esperanza, sanación y una segunda oportunidad a los animales que más lo necesitan.
¿Qué se necesita para ser hogar temporero?
Un corazón bondadoso
Un hogar acogedor
Un poco de espacio
Y lo más importante: un ambiente cálido y lleno de amor
- Tenemos MUCHOS perritos en necesidad urgente de hogares temporeros.
Tu apoyo puede significar el mundo para ellos:
una camita suave en vez de una jaula fría,
manos cariñosas en lugar de miedo,
y amor donde antes no lo había.
Envíanos un mensaje hoy para saber cómo convertirte en un héroe de hogares temporeros.
Juntos podemos cambiar vidas — una patita a la vez.
Volunteer Opportunities
- 🐾 The Heart of TLC: Why Volunteering Matters
- At TLC Animal Rescue, PR, every wagging tail and gentle purr tells a story of resilience, hope, and love. Since 2008, we've been a sanctuary for animals in need—stray, abandoned, neglected, and abused pets who deserve a second chance. But behind every successful rescue, there's a team of compassionate volunteers who make it all possible.
- 🌟 Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Our Mission
- TLC is run entirely by volunteers. That means every transport arranged, every vet visit scheduled, every foster home coordinated, and every adoption finalized is powered by people who give their time, energy, and hearts freely. Without them, our mission would simply not be possible.
MEDICAL CARE
- We provide all of our animals with the necessary medical care, including vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and treatment for any illnesses or injuries they may have. Our team of veterinarians and vet techs ensures that all of our animals are healthy and happy.
- Avian & Small Animal Hospital
- Veterinarian in San Juan, PR 1582 Cavalieri Urb Caribe, San Juan, PR 00927
- 1-787-759-6263
- For the account of:
- TLC ANIMAL RESCUE, PR
Join Us
We Accept Ath Movil
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund our mission.
Contact Us
Better yet, see us in person!
We love our customers, so feel free to visit during normal business hours.
TLC Animal Rescue, PR
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
