Dog Heaven: Hundreds of Strays Make Bucolic Costa Rica Shelter Their Home

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.care2.com/causes/dog-heaven-hundreds-of-strays-make-bucolic-costa-rica-shelter-their-home.html


By: Laura Goldman April 5, 2016

Although its official name is Territorio de Zaguates (the Land of Stray Dogs), the four-legged residents of this no-kill shelter in Costa Rica probably think of it more as El Cielo des Perros (Dog Heaven) — or at least the next best thing to a forever home.

About 800 dogs rescued from the streets live on the ranch in Alajuela until they are adopted. The nonprofit shelter was founded eight years ago by the husband-and-wife team of Alvaro Saumet and Lya Battle to promote animal welfare and respect. It is funded by donations and run by volunteers.

Many of the dogs are allowed to roam freely on the property for part of the day in an effort to improve their health and adoptability. There’s also an indoor area with beds and bathing facilities.

Years before an Arizona shelter started dropping breed labels to make dogs more adoptable, Territorio found another solution. It came up with a unique breed name for every mixed-breed dog as unique as the dog itself: Alaskan Collie Fluffyterrier and Fire-tailed Border Cocker, for example. In 2013, these names helped boost adoption rates a whopping 1,400 percent.

FULL story at link. Video: https://vimeo.com/68726839

[rhett o rick]

1. Thanks for posting Steve.

[EX500rider]

2. Thanks god....

.....their old method of stray control was to throw out poisoned meat on the streets for the strays. (back in the '70's)

[shenmue]

3. Squeeeeeeeeeee

[bbgrunt]

4. I love the story but am somewhat

dismayed that it takes "marketing of unique breeds" to convince people that these dogs are valuable and worth adopting......ahhh, human nature is sometimes a sad thing.

[SusanCalvin]

5. Thank you Steve.

And thank you for your recent, self-deleted post about Brave as well.

[Omaha Steve]

6. .

[SusanCalvin]

8. .

[SusanCalvin]

7. "if any of them choose you, you will be allowed to adopt them"

Now that's the way it should be.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. Squirrel!!!

[Dont call me Shirley]

10. Sweet!