Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Our speakers from PR Animals (Puerto Rico Alliance for Companion Animals) pranimals.org
Dr. Ursula Aragunde Kohl, President
Mariangie Rivera, Sanctuary Director of Operations
Iris Irizarry Rivera, Event & Legal Coordinator
PR Animals is a dog and cat sanctuary located in Cayey, Puerto Rico, dedicated to rescuing animals and advocating for the island’s stray dogs—our beloved Satos. As a small organization, one of our greatest challenges is finding meaningful ways to involve the community in our mission.
Through this conversation, we will share how creative community engagement can transform animal welfare work. Our focus is not only rescue, but also education—helping people of all ages understand the importance of compassion, responsible care, and the powerful bond between humans and animals.
Our programs aim to reach a wide range of community members: children, young adults, professionals, educators, government employees, seniors, families, and school and college groups. By creating experiences that are welcoming and accessible, we open doors for people to become volunteers, adopters, and advocates.
Some of our initiatives include unique community events such as Sato Yoga, Sato Jangueo, Sato Relajación, Anti-Valentine’s Day gatherings, grief support groups, and seasonal activities like our “Find Your Eggs” Easter event. These programs invite people to connect with our rescue dogs and cats in meaningful and joyful ways.
We will also discuss how animal welfare organizations can expand their reach by participating in community events that are not strictly animal-related, helping introduce new audiences to the mission and inspiring future volunteers and adopters.
This talk will explore creative strategies for:
• Building stronger connections between animals and the community
• Designing innovative programs that encourage participation
• Recruiting volunteers through partnerships with schools, colleges, and corporations
• Using education, workshops, and adoption events to create lasting impact
• Sometimes traditional approaches are not enough. By thinking outside the box, we can create new opportunities for communities to come together and support the animals who need us most.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations32326
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters
00:00 Welcome, Question of the Day
04:30 Presentation
Our speakers from PR Animals (Puerto Rico Alliance for Companion Animals) pranimals.org
Dr. Ursula Aragunde Kohl, President
Mariangie Rivera, Sanctuary Director of Operations
Iris Irizarry Rivera, Event & Legal Coordinator
PR Animals is a dog and cat sanctuary located in Cayey, Puerto Rico, dedicated to rescuing animals and advocating for the island’s stray dogs—our beloved Satos. As a small organization, one of our greatest challenges is finding meaningful ways to involve the community in our mission.
Through this conversation, we will share how creative community engagement can transform animal welfare work. Our focus is not only rescue, but also education—helping people of all ages understand the importance of compassion, responsible care, and the powerful bond between humans and animals.
Our programs aim to reach a wide range of community members: children, young adults, professionals, educators, government employees, seniors, families, and school and college groups. By creating experiences that are welcoming and accessible, we open doors for people to become volunteers, adopters, and advocates.
Some of our initiatives include unique community events such as Sato Yoga, Sato Jangueo, Sato Relajación, Anti-Valentine’s Day gatherings, grief support groups, and seasonal activities like our “Find Your Eggs” Easter event. These programs invite people to connect with our rescue dogs and cats in meaningful and joyful ways.
We will also discuss how animal welfare organizations can expand their reach by participating in community events that are not strictly animal-related, helping introduce new audiences to the mission and inspiring future volunteers and adopters.
This talk will explore creative strategies for:
• Building stronger connections between animals and the community
• Designing innovative programs that encourage participation
• Recruiting volunteers through partnerships with schools, colleges, and corporations
• Using education, workshops, and adoption events to create lasting impact
• Sometimes traditional approaches are not enough. By thinking outside the box, we can create new opportunities for communities to come together and support the animals who need us most.
To comment or ask more questions about this meeting, please visit
https://maddies.fund/communityconversations32326
About Community Conversations, hosted by Maddie’s Fund: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, animal sheltering transformed overnight. Foster-based sheltering, home-based employees and volunteers, along with collaboration galvanized our communities. The pandemic, along with social injustice, has motivated our industry to look at how we partner with our communities and confront our own biases. Shelter and rescue staff across the country began talking on a weekly basis, offering support and innovative ideas to do things differently. To learn more about these calls, visit forum.maddiesfund.org/communityconversations
Chapters
00:00 Welcome, Question of the Day
04:30 Presentation
