Territorio de Zagüates - Costa Rica
Donate directly to Territorio de Zagüates:
Zaguate: the Costa Rican word for a mutt, more specifically, a stray.
Territorio de Zaguates, or Land of the Strays, is home to over 1,800 dogs in the breathtaking mountains of Costa Rica. These are dogs who once roamed the streets, now gathered into a place where they can run freely, safely, and together.
Since 2005, Lya and her team have devoted their lives to these furry souls, beginning with rescues in their own home. In 2008, they opened Territorio, expanding that mission into something extraordinary. Their goal has always been clear: to give these innocent dogs the life they deserve, while also educating others on the importance of spaying and neutering, adopting instead of buying, and shifting perceptions: showing that zaguates (mutts) are just as special, beautiful, and deserving of love as any purebred dog.
As for my time there, walking through the lush, forested mountains of Lya’s property, surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of dogs, felt like stepping into a dream I never knew I had. And somehow, on that day, it became real.
