Our story

The house came with a dog.

Not a metaphor. When Jess bought the house in Canóvanas, there was already a dog living outside and a cat who came and went as she pleased. Nobody offered to remove them, and Jess didn't ask. That was the whole decision.

Scooby, the dog who came with the house.

Scooby

His name was Scooby. He was old by then, and sick. He got the best years anyone could give him, right to the end. That's where it started. The house had land, and Puerto Rico has no shortage of animals who need somewhere to go.

A cat resting against a person's shoulder.

The mini farm

Seven goats now. Ducks, chickens, turtles. Oyster the cat, found next to an oyster truck and named accordingly. None of it was planned. People dump animals here constantly, and once you have the land, driving past stops being a thing you can do.

A litter of puppies found dumped, riding home in the truck.

The bridge

Three sister puppies living under a bridge, and Jess driving past — until one day she didn't. One of them never left. Her name is Coco.

Mama Dog nuzzling one of her puppies.

Mama Dog

A mother dog who ran a full mile behind the truck rather than lose her puppies' scent. Every one of those puppies found a home — and she stayed too. The door just stayed open after that.

Two rescued lambs resting together.

Daniella

Daniella, Jess's assistant, finds them half dead on the roadside and brings them to the house. They get vet care, food, and however long it takes to come back.

Buen vecino means good neighbor. Not a slogan — a description of the job. A good neighbor doesn't wait for someone else to stop the car, and doesn't check first whether what showed up has four legs or two.
Before and after

This is what a donation does.

Popeye the day she was found.
The day she was found
Popeye on the way to the vet.
On the way to the vet
Popeye recovering at the house.
Recovering
Popeye today.
Popeye today

Daniella found her on the road in Canóvanas after a car hit her. A donated eye surgery and a long recovery later, Popeye lives in the States. Aura came in the same way — half dead — and lives in New York now.

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The neighbors

The porch regulars

These are the ones who stayed. They live here — they're not up for adoption.

Coco at home.

Porch regular

Coco

Found under a bridge, one of three sisters.

Mama Dog on the porch.

Porch regular

Mama Dog

Ran a mile behind the truck.

Oyster the cat holding a chick.

Porch regular

Oyster

Species doesn't matter once you're part of the house.

Saturn the tortoise in the grass.

Yard regular

Saturn

Nobody remembers agreeing to a turtle.

Diego the goat.

Yard regular

Diego

Part of the mini farm.

French Fry the hen.

Yard regular

French Fry

Free-ranges the property.