How we love to care for animals! Costa Rica's southern zone provides an interesting microcosm of concern for domestic animals. As human culture is developing here at a [img_assist|nid=50|title=Boa Constrictor|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=|height=0]feverish pitch, we can observe all the different aspects of it growing on a daily basis. The area of animal care is right in there with the business, housing, real estate, tourism and so on. Way back when, in the ancient history of this epoch, there were a couple of expats that have written about their experiences of moving here and living in the jungles of Costa Rica. Animals figure into the stories. Jack Ewing of Hacienda Baru has written a book called "Monkeys are Made of Chocolate" that has numerous short stories about those times and many are focused on animals. John over at La Cusinga has written his memoirs in the book "Gringo's Hawk" (click here for review), again with animals featured prominently in the telling. We love animals, and when the human/animal relationship is conducted correctly, there is a wonderful catharsis that results from that relationship, certainly for us humans, and it would seem from the purring and wagging, on the part of the animal as well.[img_assist|nid=49|title=Love|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]

Moving up in history a bit, Mike of Banana Bread Mike fame, came on the scene with his beachside bakery. His observation of animals being abandoned on the beach (lord knows why the beach is where they get left, but they do) and his innate concern for the decrepit condition of these little beings moved him to start rescueing them, nurturing them back to health and finding homes for them. This has led up to what we have today. A well organized, privately funded program of animal placement, neutering, and care that is having a notable reducing effect on the roving bands that can often be seen on the beaches and in the towns of Latin American .

You are encouraged to utilize the growing and up to date information on these pages to find the domestic animal services available in the Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal areas that you might need for your own animal care. You will also find animals available for adoption, and what you can do if you find an abandoned or sick animal that needs care. Donations are appreciated and well used in supporting the free neutering clinics. Banana Bread Mike has spent thousands of donated dollars on flea collars, medicines, and other expenses in this noble effort.