Costa Rica Archives - Forest and Water

February 13, 2021February 17, 2021

Hope For A Senior Street Dog

Republished from the Hope 4 a Street Dog website.

*The remarkable story of a senior dog in Costa Rica who needed a second chance, and a life-changing opportunity that a dog lover from Vermont made possible.*

Meet Chino

It’s rare here in Costa Rica to see a dog old enough to have silver hair coming in on their snout. Many dogs don’t get the chance to enjoy their golden years, and especially not street dogs. So when Chino was found begging for food on the beach at Playa Negra, with ticks and matted graying hair, we at Hope 4 A Street Dog were quite surprised.

When Chino was first found at Playa Negra

It’s uncertain how this became Chino’s reality. Unfortunately, dogs are abandoned all too often when they begin to age, even when they are as friendly and sweet as Chino. For true dog lovers this is an unthinkable act, but shelters around the world are full of senior animals who have been surrendered, usually because they require more care in their later years.

The Road to Recovery

Chino was brought to Dr. Cavallini’s Veterinary office for a checkup and much-needed grooming, by two visiting volunteers, Bonnie and Mary. Sylvia, one of the best groomers in the area, worked her magic, bathing him and getting rid of all the knots and ticks. Chino left with a new lease on life; not only feeling fresh and clean, but loved and cared for like he should be.

The vet estimated he was around 8 years old. He had some of the common ailments that dogs here in the tropics deal with, but nothing that couldn’t be treated. He was now safe and fed at Berta‘s sanctuary, spending his days with her pack of rescues and fosters. We began looking for a forever home for Chino, and while he waited he got lots of visits and walks on the beach from volunteers.

A Miracle from Vermont

Then, we received amazing news from Hope 4 A Street Dog’s founder, Kim in Vermont. She had found a volunteer who wanted to travel to Costa Rica to pick up Chino, and accompany him on a journey north to live in Vermont. This admirable dog-lover, Scott Woodward, had actually adopted a Costa Rican rescue from Kim already. Kim also runs a rescue in Vermont, and has helped many dogs transition from Costa Rica find their forever homes in the U.S. Scott fell in love with his Tico dog, Milu, and jumped at the opportunity to help another rescue from Costa Rica find a loving home when he heard Chino’s story.

Scott and his dog Milu, who is also a Costa Rican rescue

Aside from being a long time dog lover and supporter of rescue, Scott was searching for ways to bring deeper meaning and happiness into his life and others’. He decided it was time to start shifting focus and energy to other things aside from work, and forming connections that mattered. This trip to Costa Rica was about more than rescuing Chino, it was about connecting with other people who have a similar mission in life, and forming life-long friendships. Scott’s mission to live with purpose and spread love is something we can all learn from and be inspired by.

When Scott landed at Liberia airport, Chino was there to greet him. He gave him a warm welcome, as if he knew they were going to be long time amigos. We immediately connected with Scott, and welcomed him to the land of pura vida, and to our community of animal lovers. We are so grateful to meet kind souls like Scott who help make miracles happen like this. We did our best to show Scott a good time here in Playa Junquillal, and he got to know the area and all of the volunteers at Hope 4 A Street Dog well. He and Chino even spent some time getting professional training with Shari from Tropic K9, so they would be ready for their trip to Vermont together. Thank you, Shari!

Volunteers, Jessica and Flavia helping Chino into his new vest. | Scott and Chino at Tropic K9

Scott’s time in Costa Rica went by fast, but he definitely packed in the memories. It’s safe to say this will probably not be Scott’s last time visiting, as we could tell that this beautiful place had captured his heart. We were so happy to see Chino and Scott forming a bond and so relieved that this senior dog was getting a second chance. We even had a farewell party for Chino before he left, to wish them well and thank Scott again for his unforgettable act of kindness.

Berta, Scott and Chino at his farewell party!

¡Buen viaje, Chino y Scott!

After extending his trip for two extra days, it was finally time for Scott and Chino to fly back to Vermont. Berta was feeling especially torn, obviously happy that Chino would be in a loving home, but sad to say goodbye after caring for him all these months in foster care. This is a feeling she is used to after rescuing and finding homes for countless dogs over the years, but it never gets easier.

Their trip went smoothly and Chino was very well behaved. Scott couldn’t wait to introduce Chino to Milu when they arrived, and show him around his new home.

Now that Scott and Chino are settled in, he says that Milu accepted Chino as his new brother quickly, and they are enjoying the Vermont summer and spending lots of time outdoors hiking and exploring. Scott was originally just supposed to foster Chino until he was adopted, but we have a feeling Chino has already found his forever home!

Chino in New Hampshire enjoying the outdoors with Scott and Milu

We Are All Hope

We are so glad that there IS hope for a senior street dog, and we want to remind you that we are ALL hope for every dog in need. This community of animal lovers continues to grow and we are endlessly surprised and warmed by new contributors like Scott to our cause. None of these heartwarming stories could be possible without the help of so many. This story is the perfect example of how it truly takes a village to give hope to a being that needed help, and so easily could have been overlooked. Thank you to EVERYONE who helped Chino and believed in him. And an extra special thanks to you, Scott.

Scott and Chino with Kim, founder of Hope 4 A Street Dog and Long Trail Canine Rescue

From Costa Rica to Vermont. Hope 4 A SENIOR Street Dog

December 7, 2019May 9, 2020

Finding a Life Lesson in SCUBA Diving

SCUBA diving is intimidating to the newly initiated. On a trip to Cost Rica this past November, I spent two days diving with my friend, Vermonter and fellow dog rescuer, Roxie. Roxie is a fearless diver and her Facebook photos of her diving excursions inspired me to take another shot at diving, something I hadn’t done in over twenty-five years. In the weeks leading up to the trip, I was excited about getting to see first-hand the kinds of sea life that Roxie captures in her photos.

I made sure to mention diving whenever talk of my pending trip came up in conversation. I felt confident and laid-back about it, as if it would be a piece of cake. On the morning of our first day, the dive master, Bobbie Jo, took me through a refresher course in a nearby pool. Although the facade of my confidence cracked a bit during the refresher, I still felt pretty good about the whole thing, right up to when the dive boat backed up to shore for loading the tanks and all the other gear we would need for the first day of diving. Then the anxiety kicked in big time as the situation got real.

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I pulled Bobbie Jo aside and told her that I would pay her the full amount for two days of diving, but that there was no way I was going to dive. I told her I was afraid to do something stupid, potentially hurting others or myself. She tried to coax me into coming along for the boat ride and maybe do some snorkeling. After a few minutes of back and forth, I agreed to go. On the ride out to the first dive site, I regained a bit of confidence and so I geared up with Roxie, Bobbie Jo and Roy, another seasoned diver.

Roxie and Roy went in first and started their descent while Bobbie Jo stayed with me. The two of us then got in the water and started our descent, but I immediately panicked and went back to the surface. My confidence was shattered. It didn’t help that my mask wouldn’t seal. We took off our BCD’s and got back in the boat. We then snorkeled for about twenty minutes. Bobbie Jo was extremely kind and patient with me. My mask still would not seal so even snorkeling was not all that enjoyable. Roxie and Roy returned after their dive and we then made our way to the second dive site.

The second site offered a “play pen” and Bobbie Joe intentionally took us there as an opportunity for me to boost my confidence. The play pen is a relatively shallow area of about twenty-five feet on one side of a rock island in the Gulf of Papagayo off Del Coco Beach. I felt much more comfortable there. It felt like something in between a swimming pool and deeper waters. This time, I switched masks and we geared up for another dive. I held on to Bobbie Jo as we descended down the rope that attached the boat to bottom of the dive area. I continued to hold on to her for the entire dive.

I was scared and I kept telling myself to stay calm and to not panic. But, I also began to enjoy the scenery and the sensation of feeling like an astronaut. By the third and final dive of the day, I was still somewhat scared, but feeling significantly more confident at descending and diving on my own without having to hold on to Bobbie Jo. In fact, I did a successful free descent without thinking about it. By the third dive, I was starting to feel like just another diver.

The second day of diving went without a hitch. Opposite to day one, I was excited about putting on the gear and starting the first dive. On day two, I had nearly mastered being able to control my buoyancy by taking deeper breaths when I needed to rise and exhaling, or letting out air from my BCD, when I needed to go down. I kept my arms and hands folded at my waist and only used my hands to point out creatures or turn myself in the current. For a beginner, I did well on my oxygen consumption. Our dives started to go just over an hour at about 40 feet of depth with 500 bars remaining in the tank.

A few days afterward, Bobbie Jo complimented me by saying that I was “on the road to being a very good diver!” In the span of two days, I went from being a panic-stricken newbie to feeling confident enough to want to finish my certification and go on another dive trip at the next opportunity, hopefully next spring or summer with a repeat in Costa Rica or Honduras.

In the last week, I’ve realized how much my diving experience is analogous to my journey in trying to find a meaningful relationship. I realized after a recent break up that I had consistently gravitated toward situations that are familiar, comfortable and safe. Not unlike the last time I had tried SCUBA, I thought I had overcome my all my fears and barriers, but I realized that it wasn’t true. I had been doing my best, but I was in relationships with less confidence than I really had inside, much like the casual, but unearned confidence I had before this recent diving trip to Costa Rica that lasted right up until the dive boat backed up to shore.

When it comes to relationships, I’ve definitely put on the gear (as it were), and have done a better job at being less fearful, especially after my more recent experience surviving cancer. But, at best, I’ve been in the play pen. I was part way there, but not all the way and it was fear that was getting in my way. Being out in open water and pressing on the deflate button to descend down the rope is, or was, the absolutely scariest part of SCUBA diving for me. Aside from feeling closed in, I was terrified of all the things that could go wrong while submerged 40 feet under water and having to rely on the gear. It’s not unlike how I’ve felt going all the way in relationships.

Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus is what each of us should have when it comes to a meaningful relationship. What I took away from the diving experience is that I have to rely on my own gear. I have to rely on my own skills. I have to control my breathing to conserve oxygen and maneuver more gracefully. Only when I do these things can I be a competent diver without having to hold on to the diver master or any other diver and most especially to avoid panic. By the end of the second day of diving, I felt like just another diver and that’s exactly where each of us should be when it comes to meaningful relationships.

A meaningful relationship should be like diving with another competent diver where each is primarily dependent him or herself, but each diver is also there to support the other when the situation arises. Like diving, relationships are about enjoying the scenery both individually and together. Like diving, it’s also important to never lose track of each other. It’s hard to describe without experiencing it, but in SCUBA diving, you can find yourself literally on top of another diver, or uncomfortably far apart. The trick is to maintain confidence in yourself and in each other. I found it to be magical, that sort of underwater symbiosis between divers. When the dive is over and after returning to the surface, there should be nothing but big smiles of satisfaction and happiness. Every day should be like a diving experience. For me, the diving experience was another milestone in overcoming fear and being able to get to a new depth and the feeling of weightlessness. I’m looking forward to applying this lesson to relationships.

(underwater photos, compliments of Roxie and Roy)

December 1, 2019May 9, 2020

Cultural Change in Motion

Last Spring, I inherited a small amount of money from my mother’s estate. I had also recently lost my best pal Luke in January, as well as the end of a meaningful relationship in April. In between that time, I adopted a puppy named Milu who had come from Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica. The adoption experience through Long Trail Canine Rescue was amazing. Not only was it a smooth process, but in meeting Kim Frigault, I met someone who cared about Milu’s welfare, but not in a possessive, over-worrying sort of way. In short, I had found my people. It was an easy thing to do to offer the money to Kim to rescue another dog from Costa Rica. But instead of accepting the money, Kim encouraged me to visit Costa Rica and bring a dog back to Vermont to foster and put up for adoption.

I jumped at the idea and told Kim that it didn’t matter what dog I brought back to Vermont with me – old dog, puppy, sick dog, healthy dog. I just wanted to help a dog find a good “forever” home. Fast forward to July and August — I ended up bringing back Chino, a senior dog, who is now part of the family, having permanently adopted him in September after utterly failing at being a foster. I knew that first trip to Costa Rica wouldn’t be my last. When I lost Luke and the relationship earlier this year, I needed a place to pour my love and energy.

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