The Land of the Strays

 Let's take a trip. Close your eyes and imagine you are checking into your Airbnb bungalow in the mountains. You pull back the curtains to see that your entire view faces a lush, mystifying, yet mesmerizing forest. You step out on the balcony, take a deep breath, and fill your lungs with the purest of air, listening to the songs and sounds of nature like you've never heard before. Your eyes feel like they are about to burst as you behold the absolute majesty everywhere you look. Instantly, you are filled with awe that is both sobering and filling. But, from a distance, you hear what sounds like dogs barking. "Dogs?" you may ask. " What dog would be out here?" as you scan the area for movement. Suddenly, you hear a different bark, and another, and another. 

 You might be wondering where I am going with this plot twist, and I promise you that you will not be disappointed! This is exactly what happened to us when we went on vacation in Costa Rica a few years back. The bungalow, the awe-inspiring views, and the distant but distinguishable sound of dogs barking. As dog lovers, we immediately jumped into action, looking for a possibly stray dog (or a few). Would you believe me if I told you our search led us to The Land of the Strays? And yes, this is a REAL place! If you are a dog lover (and who wouldn't be?), keep reading because you HAVE to know about this amazing place where Dog is King and how you can support, sponsor, or even adopt a stray 😍

  Territorio de Zagüates (The Land of the Strays) is a sanctuary for stray and abandoned dogs. It is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization in Carrizal, Alajuela, Costa Rica, and they are a NO KILL shelter. This is truly a safe haven for ANY dog that needs a place to call home, where daily they receive food, clean water, veterinary care, cozy beds, endless exercise (if they feel like it), and unending, unconditional love from the owners, Lya and Alvaro, as well as from the team of compassionate and dedicated people. Did I mention that these dogs have pretty much an entire mountain for themselves?  Yes, literally a mountain. Let me tell you a bit more about our experience here.

When we found this amazing piece of dog heaven, we walked up a dirt road and found a locked gate, where you could clearly see the path continue further; it almost seemed eternal. A few minutes go by, and we hear a vehicle approaching and stopping at the gate. Out of the car comes this gorgeous redhead woman with nothing but the purest of kind eyes to unlock the gate; she had a few dogs in her vehicle, and I thought, "Well, that's cool she can bring her dogs to work!". Nope, that wasn't it. Those were dogs she picked up, strays, on her way to the sanctuary, and I can tell you there were more than 2 in her car. "This woman is fearless," I thought to myself, and I was ALL for it!

 So, we continued to walk up the path where we were greeted by hundreds of dogs, HUNDREDS! All different sizes, colors, breeds, and ages. It was literally doggie heaven, and that was just the beginning! They offered guided tours with the dogs. What do I mean? You could join a tour guide with a few assistants and a few hundred dogs to hike the trails, all off-leash. Don't believe me? Look at the pictures we took with the zagüates!

 This was, to this day, one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had! Enjoying the beauty of Costa Rica and sharing time with these amazing dogs! "But, don't they run away? Do they get lost? Is it safe for them to be left free to roam?" you may be asking. And I have one answer for you: these dogs are safer in this sanctuary than they ever were on the streets, starving, looking for food and shelter, and in need of veterinary care. The Land of the Strays was created purely out of love for a stray dog that the owners, Lya and Alvaro, had adopted, and they grew their love to actually make a difference for dogs needing help and for their community. Currently, they have well over 1500 rescued dogs, with a daily intake of hundreds of abandoned strays. How does this operation work? How can they afford to take care of and maintain the daily welfare of the zagüates? We lived it firsthand: with love, nothing is impossible. Every single one of the heroes that work in The Land of Strays have given their all to make sure these dogs are cared for. 

 You know the saying: "It takes a village."? Well, this is where myself and you, dear reader, come in. Through donations, sponsorships, and adoption, we can help these survivors enjoy a full life and be a part of helping those who need emergency veterinary care and assist in the cost of routine care as well. I can go on eternally talking about this place. The impact it had on my husband and me, and our friends that went with us on this trip, gave us relief. Relief because there are genuine, loving people who don't judge, don't ignore, and don't give up on the voiceless who need help. There's no ulterior motive or hidden agenda. There are only dogs. Dogs that were left hurt, unloved, and helpless are now enjoying a haven, their Home away from Home. The land of the Strays is proof of the power of true goodness in actions. Why would we not want to be a part of that? 

Thank you so much, Guardians of the Strays, for your unconditional love and generous hearts in helping these dogs get a second chance at life. And for my readers, I encourage you all to please visit their website at https://www.territoriodezaguates.com/, as well as their Instagram to meet the strays and share your warm love from overseas. As always, thank you all so much for spending time with me and, specifically, for reading this post that is very dear to my heart 🐾🫶