22/09/2026
Our Island Story. 🌴🐾
I had visited the Dominican Republic many times over the years, but in 2019 I discovered the North Coast and something felt different.
A friend told me about Cabarete, and when I finally discovered it, I understood why. The beach felt almost magical, colorful kites filling the sky, windsurfers moving across the water, the Caribbean breeze, and people simply walking along the shore with their dogs.
There were also dogs without a home of their own. Visitors would care for them during their stay, and when they left, some of the local restaurants and people in the community would continue looking after them. 🐾
I remember sitting on a terrace, taking it all in and thinking: this is the life I want. A life by the sea, with Samson and Azabache beside me, surrounded by that feeling of freedom, movement and island life while also beginning to notice all the other paws around us.
I returned to Canada. Then the pandemic arrived, and while the world seemed to stand still, that little piece of Cabarete stayed in my heart.
When I eventually came back, I arrived with very little for myself mostly what Samson and Azabache needed, my laptop, and an idea of a new life still taking shape.
From there, I began creating again. One idea led to another, and little by little, a new chapter started to unfold.
Looking back, perhaps some of the first footprints of Soulful Pawprints were already there… in the sand. ❤
Years later, that dream has grown and found another purpose: turning our love for animals into small ways of helping those who need us.
Small purchases. Big impact. 🐾 Soulful Pawprints by My Putchi
From the Caribbean with love,
by Mirtha Yepez ❤
