Some fast facts about this project:

  • Location: South Caribbean Region, Costa Rica
  • Project Type: Animal Welfare / Veterinary Infrastructure
  • Beneficiaries: Hundreds of families and thousands of domestic animals
  • Partners: Puerto Viejo Dogs, Los Gatos de Marlies

About:

For everyone at The RISE Foundation, the welfare of domestic animals is more than a concern, it’s a driving force. As passionate rescuers ourselves (our team includes Shevonne with 3 dogs and 3 cats, Sarah with 2 dogs, Mina with a cat, and Laura, a champion for 12 rescued animals!), this mission is deeply personal.

The South Caribbean faces a stark reality: access to veterinary care is limited and often unaffordable. A single spay or neuter surgery can cost upwards of $60—an impossible expense for families earning minimum wage (approximately $3 per hour). With few resources, lack of training, unfenced properties, and limited education on responsible pet ownership, animals here face severe risks.

The consequences are heartbreaking: overpopulation, road accidents, malnutrition, abandonment, and permanent chaining. The ecological impact is just as serious—domestic animals contribute to biodiversity loss, and dog attacks are the second leading cause of mortality for sloths in this region.

Our solution? Actively provide essential care for at-risk dogs and cats in our community. We assist families who are unable to afford veterinary expenses by funding critical surgeries, routine vet visits, and vital medications for their beloved pets. We’ve also taken a proactive approach to population control, organizing several successful spay and neuter clinics that have served approximately 400 cats and dogs. To prevent the spread of disease, we’ve vaccinated around 700 animals in the South Caribbean.

What the project needs:

To bring this life-saving clinic to reality, we need:

  • Funding for construction and equipment
  • Veterinary tools and medical supplies
  • Volunteer veterinary professionals and support staff
  • Ongoing operational support

Where the money will go:

Every dollar you give will directly impact animal lives and improve the health of the entire community.

1.

Clinic Construction and Equipment:

Building the facility and furnishing it with essential tools

2.

Medical Supplies:

Vaccines, medications, surgical tools, and more

3.

Staffing and Training:

Hiring qualified vets and technicians, and offering community training

4.

Operational Costs:

Utilities, outreach programs, and maintenance

The impact

  • Over 400 animals already spayed or neutered through RISE-led clinics
  • More than 700 vaccinations administered to prevent disease
  • Financial support for families unable to afford urgent surgeries or routine vet care
  • Ongoing funding, vaccines, and collaboration with local rescues (Puerto Viejo Dogs, Los Gatos de Marlies)
  • Reduction in wildlife attacks and pet abandonment
  • Empowerment of low-income families to care for their pets

By supporting domestic animals and helping low-income families care for their pets, we aim to foster an ecosystem that benefits all life in the South Caribbean. Conservation and animal welfare go hand in hand, and by providing these essential services, we can reduce wildlife attacks, prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases, and help ensure that every creature—human and animal alike—has the chance for a healthy, happy future.

Working with the community, for the community:

We proudly support and collaborate with the only two dedicated animal rescue groups in the South Caribbean, Puerto Viejo Dogs and Los Gatos de Marlies. By working hand in hand with local families, educating pet owners, and empowering community leaders, we ensure that this clinic serves the people and pets who need it most.

This is a true community project built for the people, by the people, with love and care for every living being.