This news item is about: Even before Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, an estimated 300,000 stray dogs and 1 million stray cats roamed the island. After the Category 5 hurricane hit, family pets became separated from their owners, regular spay/neuter operations for strays ceased and few animal shelters could function because of the island's fractured infrastructure. Now, veterinarians from the College of Veterinary Medicine are leading service trips as part of a national initiative to alleviate these difficult conditions.