A new life for a special survivor

This is the story of a dog who has somehow survived, against all odds, more than any of us could ever imagine..on her own. 

It all started when a friend was planning a trip to Puerto Rico, to participate in a monumental spay/neuter event. As someone who is a passionate advocate for local NJ rescue, at first I was hesitant ...but then the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If we could help the animals and people on this horribly devastated island , we would truly be making a difference. Not only to those in Puerto Rico, but also to my beloved local dogs, as helping control the population there would mean fewer spots would be taken from local
dogs in our already overwhelmed and overflowing NJ shelters. 

I was afraid when I got there...what if there were dogs everywhere? What if I couldn’t help them? The plan was to help as much as we could at the clinic. Which we did. After that first long day, seeing the families with their dogs and cats, hearing their stories of Hurricane Maria, and how they survived with their animals, we felt good about being even a very small part of helping these kind people, who were so desperate for that help. 

That night, my friend and I had left the clinic late, and decided to rush through a quick but much needed dinner...and take an evening kayak tour. We were afraid we wouldn’t make it on time, so we called and asked if they would wait for us. ..and then we got lost. We were late, but we finally found the sign “with the sea turtle on it” , that we were told to look for. 

While boarding the Kayaks, suddenly, literally out of nowhere, out of the complete darkness, a dog appeared. This dog didn’t stop at just appearing..she immediately sat in my lap. She wouldn’t be ignored. She wiggled with happiness, kissed  my face, repeatedly, the whole time trying to stop me from getting on this Kayak. I was completely overwhelmed with my instant connection with her. I felt her belly as I hugged her, it was covered in large mammary tumors. Her tired but happy , scarred body told her story. Her ears had been cut, right down to her head. She had a large scar around her neck, which suggested that she once wore a chain. Her multiple tumors told of many litters that she had both carried and cared for, alone, without help, or a safe place to stay. 

We asked the tour director if she had been around for long. He said that she was a regular, had survived Hurricane Maria ( when many others had not) and assured us that she would be there when we returned from our tour. My friend and I talked about her the entire time. ..and agreed that if she was there when we returned, we had to help her.  Two hours later, as we approached the beach, there she was. Waiting on the sand. This was a dog on a mission. This was fate. 

Once again, “Tortuga” , as we now called her ( Turtle) made her presence known. Sat on our laps, covered us in kisses, showed us how loving and trusting she was. 

Moments later, Tortuga was viciously attacked by three other street dogs. She fought them off, after being both bitten and raped, and then disappeared. We were horrified ...this was her life, day after day. She asked for our help. We had to help her. What would happen to her now? Was she hurt? 

Finally, it was the morning of my return home. A group of wonderful  new friends, who had known each other before, but had never met me, or Tortuga, spent five hours searching. We spoke to people who genuinely cared and helped. We spoke to people who said,  “there are a lot of dogs here...we don’t really notice them” but we never lost hope. 

I got on on the plane that day, broken-hearted but hopeful. I finally knew why I was meant to visit Puerto Rico. ..and my friends were all as determined and touched as I had been by this special dog. ..they promised to find her. They searched again that night. ..no sign of her. The next morning, they returned to Fajardo to look again, and stopped at a cafe’ where the staff had been especially helpful, and there she was. Sitting on the back steps. 

With the help of some special rescue friends at home ( who will all be mentioned and thanked profusely) they were able to get Tortuga to a hospital, in Puerto Rico, where she could receive much needed care, and finally get off the streets, until we could figure out the next steps in helping her. 

At that hospital, finally in caring hands, Tortuga has done nothing but give love to everyone she meets. The kind and wonderful staff are in love with her. 

Some basic tests have been done, and while we have many more medical issues to address, we do know that Tortuga has heartworm disease, multiple tumors, needs to be spayed, and is a young senior, at about age seven. 

Through another local and very helpful rescue partner, we were surprised, and absolutely thrilled this morning to learn that Tortuga will be on a flight to NJ tomorrow morning. 

Its important that I mention that even though I work for a shelter with the heart or a rescue, and with many other reputable rescues, Tortuga will not take a space, or funds away from a local dog in need. Tortuga will be fostered by my friend and I , and we are raising the funds for her care together, but independent of any rescue group. We will treat her medical issues, care for her, and find her a home. Making the promise has agreed to help make sure that all of Tortuga’s donations are tax deductible. 

This is us where you can be a part of Tortuga’s miraculous rescue story. ...she has lived through so much. To meet her is to adore her. She begged for help...and would not be ignored. While we were only a small part of a big mission in Puerto Rico, we are making all of the difference in this one precious life. Please share Tortuga’s story, so that we can provide her with the medical care that she has been waiting her whole life for. 

Thank you so much for caring ❤️