About Us

Guayabo Animal Rescue

 

Nestled in the serene province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Guayabo Animal Rescue and Sanctuary spans 300 acres of pristine wilderness. Here, we are more than just a sanctuary—we’re a lifeline for animals in need.

 

Our dedicated team rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs, giving them a chance at a loving home. We also operate a pet food bank, providing essential support to families struggling to care for their pets during tough times. Our efforts extend beyond dogs; we rescue and care for horses, goats, and even have two adorable cows who have found safety and love with us.

 

A cornerstone of our mission is our spay and neuter programs and medical support initiatives. These critical efforts help prevent overpopulation and ensure every animal receives the care they deserve. Additionally, we engage local school children through our educational programs, teaching them compassion and responsibility towards animals and the environment.

 

Preserving our 300-acre sanctuary is crucial. It’s not just a home for our animals but also a haven for wildlife, protected and cherished for generations to come.

 

Guayabo Animal Rescue also offers eco-tourism opportunities for guests from around the world. Visitors can enjoy overnight stays in our spacious villa accommodations and explore our property on rescue horses, ATVs, or hiking trails. Be on the lookout for Howler monkeys, toucans, rare and beautiful butterflies, or even an elusive sloth. Guests can view stunning sunrises and sunsets from our wrap-around porches, alongside our free-roaming loving rescue dogs – who can’t wait to love on you!

 

We are more than an organization. We are a community, united by a shared passion to be the voice for the voiceless. Join us in our mission to save lives and make a lasting impact. Together, we can create a brighter future for animals in need and the people who love them.

SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES

Guayabo Animal Rescue focuses on spay and neuter efforts to help reduce the population of dogs and cats, as many in this area are left to live on the streets, suffering from neglect and starvation. These services can be expensive and many people in this rural area (or any area for the matter) cannot afford these type of surgeries that are needed, but to some perhaps not necessary. Our medical team offer spay and neuter for a minimal suggestive donation or free if a family qualifies. We provide large scale clinics monthly in order to keep this accessible to all people and their pets. Our team also work with rescues helping as needed in their efforts to sterilize a dog or cat before he/she is adopted. For information on registering your pet for a clinic please email luis@guayaboanimalrescue.org and to sponsor this program, email nicole@guayaboanimalrescue.org. 

Providing Homes

Guayabo Animal Rescue offers a permanent home for neglected and abandoned animals, such as dogs, horses, and goats. Medical treatment and nutritional care is made available for every animal, along with ample room for free roaming exercise and quality sheltering. No animal is housed in a cage or small enclosure, and animals are not euthanized unless necessary to eliminate extreme suffering. This type of facility is unique to the area. 

Animals chosen for residence go through a careful evaluation process regarding their current situation. We ensure that they meet our primary criteria for intake-either homeless, and/or require on-going medical treatment. After verifying that we are the best option, animals are provided safe shelter, medical care, and an improved quality of life. 
Adoptions are made available for those we feel can be placed, as well as short-term medical care for pet owners who can’t afford care, but want their pet back upon completion of treatment. 
We may take in animals for rehabilitation, as a means of rehoming. However, some may have more mental or physical issues that can’t be readily rehabilitated or re-homed.
Space is limited so to ensure resources are available for animals and can’t take in, partnering with other organizations is critical. It truly takes a village!
We may also take in animals for rehabilitation, as a means of rehoming. However, some will possibly have more mental/physical issues that can’t be readily rehabilitated or re-homed.

Space is limited so to ensure resources are available for animals we learn of and can’t take in, partnering with other organizations is critical. It truly takes a village!

Adoption Services

Guayabo Animal Rescue provides adoption services to qualified adopters, with a primary focus on dogs. While dogs are central to our adoption efforts, we also place other animals into loving homes when the right adopter is found, creating space for more animals in need.

 

Dogs are extraordinary creatures, capable of forming deep, loving bonds with humans. Sadly, many end up in shelters, victims of circumstances beyond their control. We strive to not only find these animals safe and caring homes but also to assist pet owners who cannot afford emergency medical care for their beloved companions. The more support we receive, the more lives we can touch and save.

 

Our adoption process is thorough and thoughtful. We take the time to get to know each prospective adopter, providing them with educational tools, training tips, nutritional guidance, and advice on proper housing and exercise. We maintain ongoing contact with adopters to ensure things are going well and offer continued support. If an adopter is unable to continue providing care, the pet can return to us, ensuring it remains safe and well cared for.

Animals Available for Adoption

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Educational Opportunities

Our team offer educational programs to school children, a first of its kind in this region. Bringing in school groups for classroom learning, as well as spending time with animals on the property. Children learn about animal care, importance of spay and neuter of pets, and how to be kind to all animals. Books are provided to children to take home and share with other family members. Cultivating kindness to all kinds! 

In 2016, the nonprofit organization World Animal Protection released a survey on responsible ownership. The study showed that Costa Rican’s generally have deep affection for their pets, but can be better owners. For example, a dog’s dental health, and even desire for exercise and distraction, is often overlooked. While most owners say they mainly keep their dog in the house or in the backyard, 15% will tie them up all day. Enclosing or tying up a dog is one of the most harmful things you can do. A dog needs exercise and stimulation to maintain its health, just like humans.

We offer educational opportunities to the community through various programs. Topics will include; providing quality nutrition on a tight budget, low cost or free spay/neuter options, properly exercising your pet (companion or large animals), as well as help with alternative ways for proper sheltering (we discourage the practice of tying them up for long periods of time).

Medical Assistance

Guayabo Animal Rescue provides medical assistance through a program called Guayabo Hope Fund. When funds are available we assist owners of ill pets with financial assistance, which also can keep them from having to be placed at our rescue. Each case is carefully reviewed for both medical and financial need. All too often in traditional veterinary practices, economic euthanasia is the only option; we strive to never allow this to happen. Your support for this life saving program is needed. It truly takes a village! 

Tours and Overnight Visits

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Do you want to get away for a truly memorable experience?

 

Guayabo Animal Rescue offers eco-tourism opportunities for guests from around the world. Visitors can enjoy overnight stays in our spacious villa accommodations and explore our property on rescue horses, ATVs, or hiking trails.

 

Sharing stories of the over 100 animals who reside with us in person is a gift.

 

Also, be on the lookout for Howler monkeys, rare and beautiful butterflies, or even an elusive sloth. Guests can view stunning sunrises and sunsets from our wrap-around porches, alongside our free-roaming loving rescue dogs – who can’t wait to love on you!

 

Visitors experience a great opportunity to respectfully connect and interact with rescue residents in a more natural environment.

 

All proceeds from our eco-tourism retreats goes right back into caring for our animals and providing life saving programs!

 

Be forewarned – you won’t want to leave! 

Google Map of the Guayabo Animal Rescue Property.

Food Access for Locals

 
Guests can help themselves to fruits and vegetables from our garden and orchid areas. This area also includes our delicious honey available to guests and made right on property. Don’t forget to ask for some to take home. You’ll be glad you did! 
We provide a variety of fruits and vegetables in our garden and orchid areas to our family of staff who care for the animals, as well as to the people in Guayabo when available. This area includes; beehives producing delicious honey, annual and perennial foods. This area includes native species that attract wildlife and pollinators, and our fruits and vegetables are locally sourced and grown with open pollinated, organic, non-GMO seeds, providing resilient genetics.