Hi, I'm Kristiana.

My husband (a native islander) and I run Island Dawgz SAI — a grassroots animal welfare project on the tiny island of San Andrés, Colombia. We didn't set out to build a rescue. We set out to live a meaningful life. It turns out, here, those things became the same thing.

Since 2020, we've rescued, rehabilitated, and rehomed dozens of abandoned, abused, and sick dogs — while also supporting community members in feeding and caring for their animals. We've lost sleep, we've lost money, and we've cried more times than we can count. We've also watched terrified, broken animals slowly learn to trust again. There is nothing in the world like it.

Right now, we have 9 dogs in our full-time care (as well as dogs in the community), including:

A formerly feral mother, slowly learning what safety feels like
Several adult trauma survivors, some still in rehabilitation
Bean — our sweet, scrappy resident who reminds us every single day why this matters
Dogs recovering from distemper, malnutrition, and neglect
And more — because the island doesn't stop, and neither can we

We grow food on our land, hand-prepare their meals, and treat them as naturally as possible. But we have reached a wall — financially and logistically. We do not have safe, secure, permanent housing for all of our animals. Every day is a careful shuffle to keep everyone protected.

We need your help to build something that lasts.

✅ What We Need Most Right Now

Outdoor kennel compound — permanent, safe, secure housing for dogs currently without stable shelter (est. $5,000 for materials: cement, fencing, roofing, beds, bowls)
Vet care — spay/neuter, illness treatment, emergency visits (~$300/month)
Medications & prevention — flea/tick, dewormers, infection treatments (~$200/month)
Food — dry kibble + whole food (rice, fish, vegetables, meat) (~$200/month)

Monthly operating need: ~$500/month One-time kennel project: ~$5,000

💔 Why This Island, Why This Matters

San Andrés is a small, isolated island with a severe stray dog crisis, virtually no animal welfare services, and deep cultural pressure to acquire imported "purebred" dogs — which worsens abandonment of local Criollo dogs. We receive calls almost daily. We cannot answer all of them anymore.

The animals here do not have a voice. We are trying to be one.

🙏 Every Dollar Goes Directly to the Animals

We are not an NGO. We are not a large organization. We are two people, on a small island, doing this because no one else is — and because we believe that how we treat the most vulnerable among us reflects who we are as humans.

Even $5 matters here. Truly.

Other ways to give or connect: 📧 Venmo @IslandDawgzSAI

🎥 TikTok: @consciouscreatrix333

Send me an email: kristianamilliken@gmail.com if you'd like to donate in other ways or connect about a project.

Want to sponsor a specific dog? Email us and we'll introduce you personally.

Thank you for seeing them. Thank you for seeing us.

— Kristiana & family, Island Dawgz SAI 🐾

Help Our Grassroots Animal Rescue on San Andrés Island, Colombia

Urgent needs: Safe kennel construction, vet care, medications & food for 9 dogs in full-time care

Team Members