SENASA, the National Animal Health Service in Costa Rica and the Health Ministry, in response to citizen complaints received, visited the famous dog shelter “Territorio de Zaguates” (Land of the Strays) today.

Territorio de Zaguates is a non-profit organization a “no-kill” dog shelter located in a large property in the mountains between Heredia and Alajuela.

According to Senasa’s director Bernardo Jaén, the institution received complaints about the condition of the animals and the possible contamination of a tributary that is close to the Territorio de Zaguates ranch; therefore they notified the owners of the shelter yesterday of their visit.

However, through their Facebook page, Territorio de Zaguates stated their discomfort as they had asked Senasa to coordinate their visit for this coming Friday, since unexpected visits generate disturbances of the pack that can cause fights to break out.

“We have no problem with Senasa doing their job, we have never opposed to the visits or inspections they have done or have to do. What is unacceptable is that they do as they please without accepting any of our recommendations The way they proceeded caused fights between the animals. This is one of the results of the show they made”, states the Facebook post which shows photos of the injuries sustained by some of the animals involved in this fights.

Senasa then responded also through Facebook with their version and the results of their inspection:

“The entry was done according to the ordinary procedures used by the institution, without the use of violence. During the visit we had the presence of the person responsible of the shelter and other personnel in charge. Among our findings we can mention the unfulfillment of the minimum conditions of animal wellness according to what is established in national legislation; we found animals visibly sick and in deplorable physical conditions. There is no separation of animals according to their health state, age or temperament, which is reflected in the wounds and injuries suffered as a consequence of fights, which did not occur as a result of our inspection. There are not enough troughs or water troughs or infrastructure for the adequate care of the number of animals in the shelter”.

The report of Senasa shows deficiencies and non-compliance of several other aspects such as the absence of a plan for burial of dead bodies and only 300 square meters of roof area. According to Senasa Territorio de Zaguates didn’t allow the inspection of the storage area were food and medicines are kept.

The reactions of the Facebook community were immediate, the majority of the users were upset about the inspection and the reports filed on the conditions of the animals and defended the job of the shelter that currently cares for over 800 stray dogs, taking them out of the streets and giving them a safe place to live. “It is impossible to expect 800 dogs rescued from the street to be in optimal conditions”, said one user; others criticized the lack of action of Senasa in solving the problem of abandoned dogs and suggested they should at least help the cause of Territorio de Zaguates.