Our Story
About El Refugio
Based in the town of Uvita on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, we are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty; yet despite the stunning surroundings, countless cats and dogs face severe hardship.
El Refugio was formed in response to the overwhelming need to care for these animals, many of whom are homeless and in dire need of medical intervention, daily care and nutrition.
Our full organization name is El Refugio Hogar Animal Costa Ballena, but you will also see us referred to as “El Refugio Costa Ballena”, or more simply “El Refugio”.
WHAT WE DO
Rescue & Rehabilitation
We rescue dogs and cats who often have immediate medical needs. They may be malnourished, suffer from diseases and parasites, have broken bones, and skin problems. We provide all the necessary treatments for them to become healthy.
Shelter & Adoptions
We provide cats and dogs sanctuary, care and love until they are adopted. The emotional well-being of each animal is as important as their physical health. When they are ready, we make sure adoptive families are good matches; and the animals will be loved and kept healthy and safe.
Spay & Neuter
So much suffering can be alleviated with spay and neuter! One of our primary objectives is providing spay and neuter for pets in low income families. We continuously provide low-cost or free surgeries for the local communities and remote areas of the South Pacific Zone.
Community Assistance
Our community assistance program supports hundreds of families each year who cannot otherwise afford life-saving veterinary care, medicines and even food for their pets. Without our help, many dogs and cats would suffer and be abandoned.
FOR ALL THE CATS & DOGS TO BE LOVED AND WELL
Our Mission
Our mission is for every cat and dog of Costa Ballena to feel the safety and warmth of a loving forever home; 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 adoption and beyond; to provide free education to school children and the community to improve the overall welfare of animals in our area; and to place as much focus on our animals’ emotional well-being as we do on their physical wellness.
ENDING SUFFERING
Our Accomplishments
Our achievements include:
- Assistance for hundreds of sick and injured pets in local families
- Rescue of over 1080 homeless, abandoned, starving, sick, and injured dogs and cats, including veterinary care, vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, and nurturing them until they find loving homes
- Over 6142 spays and neuters at free and low-cost clinic events throughout the region
- Ongoing care for over 50 animals at any given time
“In life there are many “have-to’s” and we do them because, well, we have to. Being a volunteer at El Refugio is a “get to” that I look forward to every week, and I love that…but also I love the feeling I get when the dogs show excitement to see me…
I love the warmth I feel when a dog leans in to give me a hug…I love knowing that every dog we help is going to know love and security and hopefully the joys of a loving home. And, I love being a part of something so special in my community – where we not only react by caring for dogs and cats in need, but we proactively educate and minimize unwanted animals.”
Megan, Costa Rica
Our Shelter
El Refugio began rescuing dogs and cats in Uvita, Costa Rica, and surrounding areas in 2017. Our initial shelter was set up in what was supposed to have been a temporary location. Seven years later the dream of a bigger, better shelter was finally realized when generous sponsors gifted us the use of a larger property in central Uvita.
The dogs enjoy individual kennels and outdoor yards to run and play. The cats live and interact together in multiple large rooms with access to outdoor spaces. The medical room and quarantine spaces, used for new animal arrivals and animals with illnesses, are constantly put to good use and are truly life-saving.
We have two volunteer shifts each day during which the animals are cared for, their living spaces are cleaned, and they enjoy spending time with each other and the volunteers. Volunteers also support the organization by working behind the scenes in all kinds of capacities – everything from keeping us active on social media – to fundraising events – to responding to all the requests for help we receive on a daily basis. Occasionally volunteers take the dogs on outings to add spice to their lives and give them experience in the real world.
El Refugio is licensed to operate as a dog and cat shelter with permits issued by SENASA and the Colegio/Asesoria. With official licensing comes obligations to comply with regulations such as: limits on the number of dogs and cats we can have at the shelter, proper waste disposal, and sanitary measures.
Our facilities are wonderful, and we do everything possible to ensure our four-legged friends are happy and comfortable while they wait for their forever homes. While the shelter provides a safe and well-designed space, nothing compares to the love and stability of a real home. The ideal outcome for every rescued animal is to become part of a caring family – and there’s no greater joy than seeing them find that perfect match.
Gratitude
We are incredibly grateful to Nate and Kim Albers for their generous support by allowing us use of the property on which the shelter operates.
Volunteer Board of Directors
Our dedicated voluntary board members manage the organization with enthusiasm and commitment, taking on a variety of roles. The rewards are the joys of interacting with the dogs and cats, witnessing their transformations, and seeing them find loving forever homes.
- Sandra Hamilton – President
- Adriana Hutton – Vice President
- Dr. Pam Lopez – Secretary
- Dr. Marlene Boyer – Treasurer
- Amelia Plowman – Vocal
- Maggie Donnelly – Vocal
- Jacqueline Quesada B – Fiscal
El Refugio Hogar Animal Costa Ballena
El Refugio Hogar Animal Costa Ballena (El Refugio or El Refugio Costa Ballena) is the only legal rescue organization in a very large geographic region in the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica.
Donations made directly to El Refugio in Costa Rica are tax-deductible to the extent of the law for taxpayers in Costa Rica.
FRIENDS OF El Refugio Hogar Animal Costa Ballena
Friends of El Refugio Hogar Animal Costa Ballena Inc. (Friends of El Refugio) was formed in 2017 to raise awareness of and support El Refugio in Costa Rica. Friends of El Refugio is a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organization. EIN 81-5479383
Donations made through our website go to Friends of El Refugio and are tax-deductible to the extent of the law for U.S. taxpayers.
It takes a lot of love and dedication to carry out our great mission. We receive no governmental funding and are 100% supported by donations. More donations mean more animals will be helped and more will be done to improve animal welfare.
