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Rooted in Love, Committed to Change

I was born in New York City and spent every summer in the Dominican Republic.

Growing up between two cultures, I came to understand a painful truth: in the DR, animals - especially dogs and cats - are not often seen as companions. They survive on the streets, mostly ignored. That’s the norm.

Street dogs are colloquially called viralatas. And in 2015, I met one that changed everything.

I nearly hit her with my car.

She became my first rescue, Frida, and the reason I started Extend a Paw.

Frida cracked something open in me, and in my family. She taught us to see every stray differently: as a soul worth saving.

Frida and Maritza
Rescue dogs

What Extend A Paw Makes Possible

We donate a portion of proceeds from every Pisqueya purchase to grassroots, primarily women-led organizations in the Dominican Republic. These groups rescue, feed, and protect street animals while educating communities and shifting cultural norms.

🐶 Animal Rescue & Aid    📚 Community Education    👩🏽🌾 Women-led Grassroots Orgs    ♻️ Sustainable, culture-driven change

The Organizations on the Ground

We proudly support these Caribbean-led orgs making change every day

If you would like to support directly, please click on the links above

Join the Mission

There are many ways to make a difference:

🛍️ Buy Pisqueya
Every purchase helps


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💸 Donate to Local Orgs
Directly support the cause


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Frida

Rest in peace, Frida

2015 – 2025

You were never just a dog. You were the beginning of something much bigger.