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I Traveled to Colombia to Help Rescue a Puppy for the 2020 Puppy Bowl

A behind-the-scenes look into my journey with Cartagena Paws.

By Wanyi Jiang

Jan 31, 2020

Summer, Adaptation, Photography, Street, Plant, Leisure, Vacation, Road, Tourism,

Wayni Jiang

Who needs the Super Bowl when you have the Puppy Bowl? On Sunday, February 2, Animal Planet will host the 16th annual Puppy Bowl where 96 adoptable puppies from 61 animal shelters and rescue organizations will play against each other in the puppy version of a football game (you can see this year's roster here). The end goal? For all of the puppies to find loving homes.

Elementary school teacher Maureen Cattieu, who founded Cartagena Paws—a non-profit organization based in Colombia dedicated to rescuing abandoned animals—helped bring puppies over to the United States for the annual event. Because the puppies need flight companions, Cartagena Paws relies on volunteers to bring them back safely to the U.S. That's where I come in.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at my journey with Cartagena Paws before the 2020 Puppy Bowl, ahead.

Street, Town, Neighbourhood, Road, Human settlement, Building, Urban area, City, Infrastructure, Architecture,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

Arriving in Cartagena, Colombia. It was a sweltering 91 degrees and beautiful.

Vacation, Architecture, Street, Building, Tourism, Travel, House,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

We immediately took a walk around the eclectic city, which was infused with color and buzzing with energy.

Tree, Property, Courtyard, Palm tree, Plant, Botany, Arecales, Architecture, Building, Hacienda,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

The outside of our hotel.

Architecture, Door, Facade, Building, Window, House,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

Every corner is gorgeous.

Dog, Canidae, Yellow, Street dog, Carnivore, Dog breed, Snout, Wall, Fawn, Animal shelter,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

We came upon a homeless dog in the street. They were all so gentle.

Still life, Leaf, Still life photography, Tree, Plant, Room, Floral design, Flower, Art,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

Our first meal was at a local restaurant called La Mulata that had a menu solely in Spanish, where we shared ceviche and avocado salads with rice pyramids. YUM.

Sky, Horizon, Sea, Water, Sunset, Ocean, Sunrise, Beach, Evening, Dusk,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 1

First sunset! I mean, not bad, eh?

Room, Interior design, Dining room, Table, Furniture, Restaurant, Building, Kitchen & dining room table, Architecture, House,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel. The colors here are just so lush.

Green, Wall, Red, Grass, Backyard, Pink, Yard, House, Tree, Grass family,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

We entered La Boquilla Via, an impoverished community in Cartagena, where the rescue provides education programs for the children and people who live there.

Dog, Canidae, Pointer, Dog breed, Hunting dog, Carnivore, Treeing feist, Sporting Group, Mountain cur, Feist,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Two sweet dogs from the villa playing together.

Canidae, Dog, Hunting dog, Carnivore, Street dog, Dog breed,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Here she is nursing her pups!

People, Child, Sitting, Adaptation, Tree, Smile, Plant, Child model, Toddler, Play,

Wanyi JIang

Day 2

This little boy was so excited to show off the puppies. I couldn’t decide who's cutest.

Dog, Photograph, Canidae, Carnivore, Sporting Group, Pointer, Italian greyhound, Play, Fawn, Coonhound,

Wanyi JIang

Day 2

Feeling humbled and blessed to be with the animals and children.

People, Adaptation, Fun, Tree, Child, Smile,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

The kids have never seen a Chinese person before, but we found a common language: The Karate Kid. They told me they loved the most recent rendition of that movie. Thanks, Jackie Chan!

People, Child, Adaptation, Community, Fun, Vacation, Smile,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

They were all so eager to show us the puppies.

Canidae, Dog, Adaptation, Summer, Child, Fawn, Plant,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

The children had a way with the animals that made them feel safe.

Dog, Mammal, Vertebrate, Canidae, Dog breed, Vizsla, Carnivore, Sporting Group, Puppy, Dogue de bordeaux,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Sick of looking at pictures of puppies? No? Okay.

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

You asked for it!

People, Photograph, Social group, Child, Community, Tree, Fun, Adaptation, Leisure, Family,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Group pic! The adults from left to right are Nicole Vanderploeg from Animal Planet, award-winning animal advocate Jill Rappaport, and me, dog lover.

Yellow, Photograph, Vehicle, Car, Street, Town, Mode of transport, Snapshot, Transport, Road,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Me, per usual, running around in search of food.

Photograph, Red, Snapshot, Photography, Temple, Peach, Smile, House,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Nicole and I, right before we found the food...

Red, Fun, Event, Leisure, Party, Restaurant,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

...But not before we ran out of film! We went on a mad hunt to find it, and when we finally did, we cheered when we walked into the photo shop.

The shopkeeper insisted we fist-bump. Well, in this case, it was a fist palm-bump. Doesn’t have the same ring to it, but it works.

Cat, Felidae, Small to medium-sized cats, Floor, Tail, Carnivore, European shorthair, Bengal, Flooring, Toyger,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

On our way to pick up the rescue pup, we saw cats outside of the animal shelter. There are so many stray animals everywhere and we wanted to take them all!

Dog, Canidae, Grass, Companion dog, Costume, Smile, Fawn, Non-Sporting Group, Happy, Carnivore,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

HERE SHE IS! Sol means "sun." She’s being held by Rose Kenney, co-director of Cartagena Paws.

Photograph, Grass, People, Fun, Summer, Friendship, Lawn, Vacation, Leisure, Grass family,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Sol was a well-behaved angel since day one. After a few months of care and vet appointments, she’s been adopted by a family in Key West, Florida.

Photograph, Facial expression, Green, Grass, Skin, Beauty, Smile, Snapshot, Pink, Yellow,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

Me, looking straight into the "sun."

Event, Fun, Leisure, Table, Sitting, Vacation,

Wanyi Jiang

Day 2

The team of volunteers at dinner! Left to right: Rose Kenney, co-director; Camila Mejia, fixer for shoot; Angelica Torres, rescue & rehab, Cartagena Paws; Jazmin Perez, Cartagena Paws; Simon, producer.

We should all be wearing "Must Love Dogs" shirts, TBH.