We constantly receive messages about dogs and cats in need. We do our best to help all these animals – whether it is kittens abandoned in a dumpster, or a stray dog hit by a car and in need of immediate medical attention.
We have a network of volunteers and accounts with five local vets, so we do what we can to get these animals the help they so desperately need.
Here are just a few stories of the hundreds and hundreds of dogs and cats we rescue each year.
This mama dog showed up on the beach, pregnant. She gave birth on the property of a local lady who then contacted us for help. We were able to take the mama and pups to one of our foster homes where she and the pups could get the care they needed.
Our pups are given in adoption at three months old. Before adoption, they are vaccinated, given preventatives, and spayed or neutered so that they get a healthy start in life.
Slowly but Surely, Benji Recovered
Benji came to us in terrible condition. We were not sure if we would be able to bring him back to life, but we did.
After his long recovery with us, he was adopted to be the in-house dog at a senior center in San Jose. Look at how big and fat he has gotten.
Dumped Pups
This litter was dumped in a crate by a bridge (see first pic). We responded immediately, knowing the pups were in danger as they were dumped between a road and a large river. All were vaccinated and spayed/neutered in the weeks we had them. They were all adopted.
Dumping puppies like this is a crime in Costa Rica, but still happens too often.
Drako is on the Mend
Drako came to us directly from the street where he had been dumped. Obviously he was in need of some medical attention. After many weeks in the care of PAWS, he was adopted and is very happy with his new life.
Fragile Pup Frida
Fragile pup Frida arrived to us in rough shape having shown up at someone’s home. She was taken to one of our vets and then to a foster home.
In just a few weeks, she was healthy enough to be spayed and vaccinated, and then she was adopted.
Baby Kittens Are Always Plentiful
Most baby kittens that come to PAWS are either found on the side of the road, in dumpsters, or abandoned where people with bad intentions leave them without a care in the world.
These babies often are newborns only a few weeks old. They are very vulnerable and fragile (especially if they have been separated from their mother) and it can take weeks to start to see progress and improvement in their health. They are cared for by our fabulous kitten fosters.
These are some photos of the hundreds of kittens taken in by PAWS each year so that we can make them healthy, vaccinated, spay/neutered and then give them in adoption to responsible owners when they are three months old.
Dulce is Loving Her New Life
Dulce was found as a stray with injuries to her back paws. After weeks of recovering she was ready for a loving home…
and her wish came true.
Mama Osa and Her Babies
When the police came across this mama and her two pups at an abandoned house, they knew they had to act. Mama was starving, and all three were riddled with fleas and worms.
Coordinating with PAWS, the pups were brought to a local vet for care and then they were moved to a PAWS foster home. Their recovery was a long one, but in the end, both mama and pups went in adoption — happy and healthy and spayed and vaccinated.
Before and After of Sanito
Sanito arrived to us with terrible skin issues, but we were hopeful we could help him, and we did 🙂
A New Life for Three Female Dogs
Above are three large female dogs who were probably used as breeder dogs and then dumped. Each pictured on the the day we found them and then on the day they were spayed. All three were adopted out by PAWS.