SYLVIA BEDROSIAN shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning SYLVIA, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Pilates. I have been practicing Pilates for years, but two years ago I decided to pursue a professional certification, and now I teach and have built small community that feels very refreshing. It’s a fun and healthy habit to have and disconnect from everything. I call it my bubble, were we can’t talk about work or animal welfare.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an entertainment publicist with almost 20 years of experience working with some of the largest artists and brands in the industry. However, I’ve always had a special place in my heart for animals—especially dogs. In 2016, I launched Pet Friendly Puerto Rico, the island’s first search engine dedicated to pet-friendly places.
After living in New York City for so long, I was used to seeing people bring their dogs everywhere. When I moved back to Puerto Rico, I couldn’t understand why no businesses had pet-friendly policies—it simply didn’t exist. What I initially thought would be just a simple page quickly grew into a movement, with pet parents from all over the island sharing photos of coffee dates, brunch outings, dinners, and beach days with their best friends.
One year later, Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico. At that moment, we were the only page with a wide reach and connections outside the U.S. to ask for help. We became a nonprofit, working with Mars, Tito’s Vodka, and even César Millán, ultimately raising $100,000 to support shelters and rescue groups that had suffered complete devastation.
Since then, we’ve used every event and platform to raise awareness and funds for local shelters. I now divide my time between my day job and my passion—my cause: animals. It’s exhausting, but it’s worth every second.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Ego and lack of communication.
As someone who works in communications, I noticed that I was failing to connect with people who didn’t agree with me. I came to understand that animal advocacy doesn’t have to mean turning everyone who disagrees into an enemy. In fact, I achieved much better results when I wasn’t in “attack mode” but instead approached conversations with openness.
A good friend once taught me to pause and ask myself, whenever something bothered me: Is this really about the issue, or is it my ego wanting attention? Once I started asking that question, I realized how often ego tries to take over, damaging relationships, even good ones, that could have been repaired with a simple, honest conversation.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes . Almost every day I want to give up. Working in animal welfare is brutal and heartbreaking. There is a real crisis in Puerto Rico: on a 100×35 mile island the problem has spiraled out of control for dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and now snakes. The government doesn’t not invest ANY nothing in shelters or animal welfare, so we have to raise funds ourselves. On top of that, we receive 10–20 urgent requests: “we found a dog and don’t know what to do,” “kittens abandoned in a box,” “a horse was hit by a car,” and more. Sometimes I feel a deep pain in my stomach, a sense of helplessness and extreme disappointment in the human race.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Creating a pet-friendly society.
A community built on rules and guidelines that make sense, and that people feel comfortable following. Places with dog parks where neighbors know each other, talk to each other, and even help care for one another’s pets. A culture of responsible guardianship, where dogs are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, adopted or fostered, properly trained, and where pet parents are simply considerate of others. A functional dog registry manages with the intention to help animals and not-to-profit of them.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
The love and connection dogs give us has nothing to do with breed.
Instead of searching for a specific breed, the best way to find a dog is to look for one with whom you truly connect and who fits your lifestyle. Spending time with shelter dogs makes the real crisis impossible to ignore—and often turns the thought of buying a pet into the powerful desire to adopt.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.petfriendlypr.com
- Instagram: @petfriendly_pr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-bedrosian-7212433/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
