Meet Yari Soto | Owner of Animal Lovers Rescue

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yari Soto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yari, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Since I was young I always wanted to help animals in need. When I was about 17 years old, I started picking up strays, getting them examined by a vet and up to date on vaccines and eventually find them forever homes. As the years passed, word got around that I did this and people I didn’t even know were referred to me when finding a stray. It became very expensive to be doing this for 5-6 animals every month as I was solely covering expenses out of my own pocket. During the pandemic I realized that if I were able to legally collect donations and have some fosters working for the cause, I’d be able to multiply the amount of animals we can help, because there’s only so much one person can do. That’s when I decided to open a non profit organization benefitting the animals. In 2020, Animal Lovers Rescue was born.

We’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Just like any organization or business, the beginning is always expected to come with many obstacles. There were a lot of learning experiences, a lot of research to see what works, definetly a lot of sweat and tears. My only advice is- just start! Do the research, be prepared for obstacles as they’re inevitable, but most importantly- be relentless! No matter what comes your way, handle it and keep going. Nothing worth having comes easily. All your hard work and dedication will be worth it in the end.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Favorite spots in the city? This is hard to narrow down since we live in MIAMI! There is so much to do here. I for one love exploring, wether it’s outdoors, water adventures, foodie new restaurant to try. For the outdoor lover I would 100% recommend Oleta State Park in North Miami Beach. It’s easily one of my favorite places in Miami. I always start my trips in Oleta with a kayak ride to the beach area, or one of the nearby islands. There are sandbars and possible manatee sightings along the way. You can also go for a scenic hike or if you’re feeling adventurous, hit the trails and go mountain bike riding. After working an appetite I’d grab lunch at Planta South Beach. Hands down my favorite vegan restaurant in Miami. A full day of nature calls for some night time celebration. Dinner at Novikov is always a good idea! There’s something on the menu for everyone, not to mention the restaurant is gorgeous. I personally love to dance- so its just a matter of what kind of music you’re looking for. Salsa dancing at Ball & Chain, old school hip hop at Copper 29, or if you want the full Miami experience, LIV nightclub for a late night out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people to be thankful for when it comes to the rescue. To start, I couldn’t do this without my fosters and volunteers. They are the backbone of the operation. Working odd hours, making long drives and supplying these animals love and a safe temporary home. I’m also thankful for those in the community that have been a part of our journey. Either through adoption, donation or even just sharing our story.

Website: www.AnimalLoversRescue.Org

Instagram: @AnimalLoversRescueLLC

Twitter: @AnimalLoversMIA