May 28, 20180 comments

Meet Sai Tome of SAI RESCUE in Midtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sai Tome.

Sai, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
On September 2, 2012, I was in Miami scrolling on Facebook and I read about a dog named “Amsi.” I immediately contacted the person who upload the pictures and long story short I was booking a flight to Cancun, Mexico. Amsi was used as a bait-dog and abandoned in the middle of the street. I helped his rescuer, Claudia Gonzalez from Denuncia Abandona y Maltrato Animal in Cancun.

I stayed in Cancun for a couple of months. I visited him every day. Love was the true medicine. I helped Claudia with fundraising money in order to pay the bills. Amsi recovered successfully. Despite Amsi’s tragic past, he is the sweetest dog I ever met. Amsi was adopted and he is currently living in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2012 Sai Rescue started its mission to help dogs in need by promoting rescue, foster, and adoption.

I was born and raised in the largest city of the world, Mexico City. Since I was a little girl, I always wonder why so many Perros callejeros (street dogs) were abandoned on the streets. I think it’s important to promote respect and empathy toward animals in general. I knew words were not enough and I had to find a way to bring light to this issue.

Given the fact our society is trend-driven, I chose to use the concept of using fashion as a medium towards my goal. My love for animals and fashion unite towards the benefit of those without a voice easily heard by the human ears. This is what sparkled the creation of the tees. I created fashionable tees with slogans such as BE KIND TO ANIMALS, DOGS VIBES ONLY, EMPATHY, FREE THE DOLPHINS, SAVE THE lIONS, and I even created ones with the word dog in different languages. As a customer, you will love to know that with every tee you buy, 10% is donated to animal rescuers.

On my Instagram account:@sairescueanimals, I basically promote rescue, foster, lost and found, and adoption in Miami. I love to see adoptions successfully made via my @sairescueanimals account. Last summer Luna was missing, a beautiful brown Labrador Senior. Luna’s family wasn’t in Miami, they were in Los Cabos. The guy who was taking care of Luna left the gate open and Luna decided to go for a roll in Miami Beach.

On the red light driving to her job around 8:30 a.m while Luna was crossing the street. Yolanda didn’t hesitate and took Luna to her job. She immediately fell in love with Luna. Yolanda tried to look for Luna’s owners with no luck. I upload Luna’s picture as soon as her owner told me that Luna was missing. She was desperate. Imagine being on vacation while your furry friend is lost.

A reward was offered but Luna’s family felt hopeless. Two days later I got a call from Yolanda telling me that she had Luna. Thanks to the likes and shares Luna was found. The only reward that Yolanda wanted was to see Luna again.

Then another dog named Tutti was found on the streets on Biscayne Blvd. He was wearing a red collar with no name on it. Immediately I posted the pictures on Instagram and on Facebook with no luck. Tutti was taken to the Miami Dade Services. Luckily Tutti’s picture was all over Facebook. Yolanda has 3 dogs and Tutti is now her 4th one! It was love at the first sight.

In the United States, only the 30% of pets are adopted. There are approximately 7.6 million dogs enter to a shelter every year. I think that in order to solve the problem of the street and abandoned dogs we need to educate people and most importantly the newer generations. I created the tees with the purpose of sending the message to others in a fashion-forward way.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When you are following your dreams there are always obstacles and challenges which made me even more eager to pursue them. I think it’s important to promote respect and empathy toward animals in general and it’s not that easy. The struggle is always how can I help more animals in need?

SAI RESCUE – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I design and sell fashionable tees with catchy phrases such as Buy Coffee Not Dogs, Free the Dolphins, and Save the Lions. Also, I use strong words such as Empathy and funny phrases like I’m a dogaholic. My tees are made locally in Miami. I believe that by wearing Sai Rescue Tees you look stylish and at the same time you make a statement. Also as a customer, you will love to know that with every tee you purchase 10% will be donated to animal rescuers.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success means for me, do what you love and love what you do. One of my tees slogans says… Do it with passion or not at all and that’s it. I am a passionate person and my success is seeing happy tails.

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