The central goal at Planet Costa Rica is to keep the animals that live on the farm happy, healthy and safe.  We strive to put their needs first.  In addition, we never turn away an animal that is injured or is in need of critical care.  That does not mean we take in every stray or accept animals from locals who simply want to get rid of them.

Costa Rica, unlike the United States (where you seldom see an animal running loose on the streets), is filled with loose dogs.  Some are true street dogs, others are pets that simply run loose.  Many follow their owners to work every day and follow them home at night.  You will see many people out for a stroll with a dog or two following close behind.  You seldom will see a dog on a leash.  Overall, this doesn’t cause as much turmoil as one might think.  It’s not uncommon to see dogs in open air restaurants, dogs walking through church during service, or dogs walking inside an unfamiliar house.  It just what they do.  In the cities, the street dogs are territorial, each having a section of a block where they hang out, and that section usually contains a restaurant or butcher shop from which they get their food.  They will frequently run off other dogs that come into their turf.  They truly do have their own society.

Most of the animals on our farm are unwanted, strays, street dogs, or animals found abandoned, injured or ill.  If you are interested in adopting one of these beautiful creatures, please contact us! We understand the paperwork process for getting a dog from Costa Rica to the US, and would be happy to assist you in getting it done.  We love them all, but would love to see them placed in great homes where they can have all the attention!

 Planet Costa Rica Farm Friends

 

Pepo – this little pig was a rescue from a group of people in San Jose.  He was being raffled off and was soon to be turned into cicharrones. They managed to get him away somehow, and we agreed to host him on the farm.  

 

Kendall – one rainy night, someone cut a hole in a screened area of our lower gate and pushed Kendall through.  She was maybe 3 or 4 weeks old.  She will steal everyone’s food if given a chance.  She is 18 years old, full of energy, up for anything. She likes attention and to have her belly scratched or back brushed. 

 

 

 

Palomo – Palomo is a retired work horse, about 21 years old.  He is friendly and inquisitive, and likes to hang out where the people are.  He roams the farm freely; with the exception of the upper area by the main house (where he would eat our banana crop). He is not shod (he does not wear horseshoes any longer) and we don’t ride him.  He is retired and content to live his live on the farm mowing the lawn. Brush him and give him a banana and he will be your friend forever.

 

Goaty McGoatface – A man from a neighboring village called to say he could no longer afford to care for his goat.  He asked if we could care for him. We were expecting a mean old goat.  We were surprised and delighted to meet this sweet and affectionate young goat.  He now grazes on the farm by day and sleeps with the chickens by night. His original name was Chayanne, but he answers bleatingly to Goaty.

 

Bowzer – we agreed to take this poor dog off the streets of Puerto Viejo from another rescue organization. His skin was in terrible condition was a result of of a poor diet.  He is around 19 years old. Bowzer is a gentle creature with big sad eyes.  He loves to talk, and he gets along with all the other animals.

 

Florcita – our angelic, special-needs foster dog came to us after a long and sad medical battle.  She was found with her skull shattered in 13 pieces. She is incredibly sensitive, fragile and loving. Within a few months on the farm, she has made a radical improvement both with physical and hydro therapy, as well as better mental stimulation and comprehension. Please have patience and understanding when working with her.

 

Wilma – Wilma is quite possibly the sweetest goat in the world! She was a rescue from high atop Volcan Irazu. The goat farmer had taken her in to breed, but found she was sterile. As a result, she was a waste of his time, because he had to feed her, yet she could not produce a baby or milk to sell. She was tied on a short rope in the barn, with just enough slack to lie down. When we offered to welcome her in our sanctuary, he gave her to us. We transported her in our vehicle and she was quickly introduced to the other resident animals on the farm. Both Palomo and Goaty are infatuated with her, but she flirts with Bowzer a lot. 

Basil – just outside the farm gate, this kitten was dropped off from a car, and he crawled into a sluice pipe. It took considerable effort and patience to coax this scared kitten from the pipe, but he soon after became a happy cat on the farm.  He can be found most days lounging with his best cat friend Enoki.

 

Enoki – this kitten was found outside our lower gate in a plastic bag.  He was about 4 weeks old, and completely infested with internal and external parasites.  In addition, he had a severe fungal infection.  We named him Enoki, as enoki is a type of fungi.  Months later, he turned into a happy, health cat, loving life on the farm.  He is best friends with Basil.

Former Planet Costa Rica Farm Friends

Gumby – Gumby was in need of medical attention when rescued. He had a massive hernia “pelota” on his stomach which was filled with his intestines.  He has had two surgeries to correct the hernia. He is extremely smart, affectionate and sensitive. He loves attention!

Sophia – Sophia was thrown over our fence when very young – far too young to be separated from her mother.  She has grown into an intelligent and lovable critter. She holds her own with the dogs. Sophia loves, and she is crazy about avocado and seaweed. She loves to sleep in the house and is a bed hog.

Archie – found as a kitten abandoned in the cane fields, Archie has grown into a handsome young cat.  He is playful and affectionate.  He is also neutered and ready to find some humans that will take him into their lives.  He is good with other cats and also with dogs.

Yasira – this energetic pit bull mix came to us near death, her hind leg broken from being run over by a tractor. She had a high fever and was barely conscious. Her owners were going to shoot her because it was too much trouble for them to care for her wounds. Once we splinted her leg, got rid of the infection, and rehabilitated this girl, she became an immensely strong and intensely playful girl. She’s not a fan of other the other species on the farm, so she is walked on a lead. Keep her clear of the chickens, goat, cats and pigs. She would love to take you for a walk.

Raja – This sweet girl was found walking down the road. She looked like a skeleton of a dog with a huge head. Her skin was in horrible condition. She is ultra-sweet and loves to cuddle. She is starting to pick up some weight, and her skin is much better.

 

 

Espunky: Before and After – We were notified of an animal in distress – a dog with a sever case of mange.  Espunky had the worst case of the skin disease we had ever witnessed.  After several months of care, his hair, health and happiness returned!  He is a funny, joyful dog, loving every day of his new lease on life.

 

Sebastian – this friendly rooster is both beautiful and fearless!

 

 

Rolf – Rolf was abandoned near our property by some unknown person. He kept pacing back and forth, jumping up to our gate, practically begging us to let him inside, despite our resident dogs barking at him. He is an adorable Shepherd-Hound mix, about 5 or 6 years old. He is lovable, great with humans and other dogs, but attacks cats. Rolf loves to go for walks, run, play, and get brushed. He is very loyal, and a great protector.

 

Levi – this beautiful young boy was the runt of a litter of seven.  We were asked to take this litter from a nearby farm, where a street dog gave birth then abandoned the pups at an early age.  Levi is now living in New Jersey with one of our wonderful former helpers!

 

 

Pelouche –  this poor girl was taken off the streets.  She was emaciated and using only three legs.  She had medical issues, but came into good health after a number of months of care and treatment.

 

Logi – this adorable kitten was found abandoned on the road not far from the farm. She is full of adventure and is best friends with Archie.  The dogs love to play with her as well, and she can hold her own.

 

 

Freddie Mon – we found street dog Freddie begging for food at a bus stop in a neighboring village. His hair was thick and knotted, and he was bald in spots. He was completely infested with parasites.  After a 3-1/2 hour haircut, we found a tiny, skinny dog beneath the mound of hair.  A very loyal and protective dog!

 

 

Indica – One Saturday we heard a noise at the gate. We went out to find this poor dog with her hind leg mangled. The bone was protruding through the skin. After the surgery by one veterinarian failed miserably, the leg was amputated by another. Her lack of a leg, however, does not hold her back in the least! She is bright and energetic, and always takes the lead on our hikes to the river. She is now retired and living in Florida.

 

  Lenteja – This beautiful girl was dumped at our gate as a puppy. She has big sad eyes, and everybody falls for her.  She has taken it upon herself to be the our protector, and she is happy to notify us if anyone should walk down the road in front of the farm. She is now living the charmed life in Canada!

 

  Dulcita – we found this poor baby scavenging for food along a desolate section of road. She appeared to be around 6 weeks old and was most likely a drop-off. This little dog was as sweet as can be, so we named her Dulcita (which translates to ‘little sweety’). She also goes by ‘Mousey.”

 

Ori – this puppy was found in a remote area by someone out on a run.  It had and injured foot and was full of ticks.  She was also malnourished.  She is quite possibly the sweetest lap dog ever, and has been breaking hearts since the moment she arrived. She is now a resident of Montana.

 

 

Chancho – We were alerted to a dog that was abandoned along the road in the banana fields.  Chancho had been dropped off, and was patiently waiting for his human to come get him.  He had been there for days. He was extremely overweight and had trouble breathing after walking a short distance. His teeth were in horrible condition. He is 10-11 years old and is a special needs dog. Although he loves cats and chickens, he does not socialize well with other dogs. He has lost some weight, can now hike up to 7 km, and has had a thorough teeth cleaning.  He is much healthier and much happier! He now lives in nearby El Congo.

 

Dante – this kitten was found by one of our farm helpers, tied up in a plastic bag along the roadside.  He was in there with his brother, which unfortunately did not live.  Both were far too young to be separated from their mother. He now leads a happy farm-cat life, playing with the dogs, climbing trees and chasing bugs.

 

 

Magaly – this chicken can be described with one word – scrappy.  She is fearless, and will eat out of a dog’s bowl – while the dog is eating.  They chase her off and nip at her feathers, but she just doesn’t care.  She has been here a couple of years, weighs as much as 2 chickens, and at times thinks she is one of the dogs.

 

 

Cafecita – This pretty little chicken showed up one day and stayed.  The other chickens get put in their coop at night, but Cafecita is impossible to catch, so she just hangs out in the coop area at night.