El RefUgio Costa Ballena

Animal rescue organization dedicated to the rescue of abandoned dogs and cats and animal welfare education in Costa Ballena, Costa Rica.

Donate: www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/donate/
Volunteer: www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/volunteer/

Our MISSION at El RefUgio is grand and we know it. But for the love of Costa Rica’s Cats and Dogs we are determined to not give up until we achieve it….

• For every cat and dog of Costa Ballena to feel the safety and warmth of a loving furever home, aiming first to offer every animal that needs it, a temporary home at our Refuge

• To reduce the population of unwanted and ill cats and dogs by offering easy and cost effective access to spay/neuter surgeries and appropriate vaccines

• To act as stewards to every animal in our care from rescue through to adoption and beyond

• To provide free education to school children and the community at large to improve the overall welfare of animals in our area

• To place as much focus on our animals’ emotional wellbeing as we do on their physical wellness

Please consider joining our team to achieve this mission.

Donate: www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/donate/
Volunteer: www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/volunteer/

Costa Ballena, home of the Whale Marine National Park in Costa Rica, is known for its wide, sandy beaches backed by palm trees and distant green mountain ridges, making it one of the most scenic and accessible coastlines in the country. The area is teaming with wildlife and is a tropical paradise for those that live here… a SANCTUARY, a shelter and a SAFE place to call home. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and acts of violence towards people are some of the lowest in the country.

Unfortunately, however, not every animal that lives here experiences the same peace, joy and connectivity. Thousands of cats and dogs each year are lost, abandoned or injured, finding themselves without food, fresh water or a home to call their own. Their lives are constantly in danger as a result of living near roadways or in the jungle, as they seek only to survive day-to-day.

It is from witnessing firsthand the pain and suffering of these homeless and injured cats and dogs of Costa Ballena that El RefUgio (The Refuge) was born.

We at El RefUgio know that the population of unwanted and ill cats and dogs MUST be controlled by frequent and ongoing spay/neuter and vaccine clinics. We also know that more education is needed within the community and our schools to improve the welfare of these animals; and we are focused on making a difference in these areas.

However, what we aim to provide first and foremost is a house… a home… a temporary FAMILY for these lost, abandoned and injured animals. Somewhere they can feel SAFE and loved, and be kept healthy while they wait for their perfect forever family.

El RefUgio is not a traditional shelter. We are a soft landing place, a ‘house’ for animals that feels like a HOME. Our aim is to never cage an animal unnecessarily and to always place as much importance on their emotional well being as their physical wellness. Our aim is to open our hearts to every animal that needs us.

El RefUgio is a non-profit NO-KILL animal rescue organization, run entirely by volunteers. Our Board of Directors is made up of a diverse group of extremely talented and passionate people, whose common vision is to contribute something to help every homeless cat and dog in Costa Ballena feel loved and cared for. Each and every member of our board is active either in the trenches providing day-to-day care to the fur babies, or on at least one of El RefUgio’s committees. Our committees are set up to empower our volunteers to be leaders and make a difference in their area of interest, be it direct animal care, education, spay/neuter and vaccine programs, public relations, adoption/foster programs, fundraising, grant procurement, and more. And we are always looking for interested people to join our team! We want to reach out to this community and engage your involvement and, together, truly make a difference in how the animals of this area our viewed and how they experience their day-to-day life.

El RefUgio’s Board of Directors WELCOMES you to share in our passion and commitment. Please contact us to see how you can help.

Your Board: Kate Barr (President), Karla Reimer (Secretary), Timothy Park (Treasurer), Amelia Plowman (Vocal), Karolina Svoboda (Vocal), Richard Simon, Dr. Sandy Quiros Beita, Dr. Kathy Wander, Donna Lewis, Nikki Wall, Brian Wall, Jan Atwood-Smith and Kristi Penland. Our Fiscal is George Scholes.

While we need people to achieve our mission, we also need donations and volunteers. If you share our vision and want to make a donation, we greatly appreciate it! If you would prefer to donate items, we have created a wish list to help guide you in your purchases. Please see the Donate page of our website at www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/donate/. If you are interested in volunteering your talents, see our Volunteer page at www.elrefugiocostaballena.com/volunteer/.

ALL money and donated items received go directly toward animal care and management. 100%. No donation is too small (or too big).

Thank you.

Uvita,
Costa Rica