Nestled in the mountains of Costa Rica, a mystical place called the Land of the Strays holds a sanctuary for over 1,800 dogs. It may sound unconventional, but this place truly exists, and it is magical beyond belief.
The story of the Land of the Strays began around 17 years ago when Lya Battle and Alvaro Saumet felt the need to help the stray dogs of Costa Rica. They started the rescue in their two-bedroom house, but as the number of dogs grew to over 100, they knew they needed more space. This led them to move to a 370-acre farm in the mountains, donated by Battle’s grandfather. The impact of the rescue extends to smaller packs, each led by a caretaker. As the dogs roam freely in the meadows, they tend to stick together with their peers. After a few local shelters closed, the sanctuary experienced significant growth by the following year.
“We serve as a temporary home for hundreds of puppies seeking a second chance, and most of our dogs are adoptable, both nationally and internationally. But we are also the permanent home for many others who may never find their own family due to their looks, age, or social needs,” Battle told The Dodo.
Walking around the sanctuary, one can witness the true paradise it embodies. Fields to frolic in and mountains to hike provide an idyllic setting with at least a dozen dogs eager to accompany visitors. But a couple of years ago, the authorities prohibited visitors and gave a daunting list of infrastructural requirements. Through immense effort, they began renovations and complex transformations to hopefully open their doors to the public by next year.
Supported entirely by donations, the sanctuary sometimes faces the challenge of prioritizing food and veterinary care over infrastructural requirements. But once they open their doors to the public again, anyone traveling to Costa Rica should experience the dream of being surrounded by hundreds of dogs sought after for adoption worldwide.
“We’re now struggling to finish most of the construction projects to hopefully open our doors to visitors and volunteers by next year,” Battle said. “As you might expect, sometimes we are forced to prioritize food and veterinarian care over infrastructure, but we are determined to make it happen.”
With hope in sight, the sanctuary looks forward to the day when they can welcome the public once again. When that day comes, anyone traveling to Costa Rica should rush there and live the dream of being surrounded by hundreds of dogs waiting for their forever homes.
