🗓 Why the Numbers Have Risen

1. Natural disasters (especially Hurricane Maria in 2017): Many residents left the island or lost pets, boosting the stray population by up to 200,000 thesatoproject.org+7latinamericanscience.org+7greatergood.com+7.
2. Economic hardship: High poverty and low spay/neuter rates fuel unchecked breeding rozziemayanimalalliance.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
3. Cultural attitudes: Limited veterinary access, resistance to sterilization, and euthanasia-friendly shelter policies thesatoproject.org.