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Welcome to PATA Samara Animal Rescue!
Born in 2019, PATA is a non-profit organization entirely run by volunteers.
Leading this mission are Sally Ella Horn and Emma Martinelli, who tirelessly coordinate operations, oversee animal care, and ensure the sustainability of the shelter. Together with a dedicated team of volunteers, they share a passion for protecting dogs and cats, dedicating their energy to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for these animals in need.
"We strive to save as many dogs and cats as possible but our ability to act
is limited by our financial resources."
Every donation we receive goes directly toward the care of these animals, including emergency veterinary interventions, medications, and essential supplies like food, shelter, and treatments. The need for funding is constant, and we rely entirely on the generosity of the community to continue our work.
While we don't want to bother you with a thousand details, here is a little non exhaustive list of what we do.
RESCUING DOGS AND CATS
Rescuing dogs and cats in distress is at the core of what we do. Whether it’s responding to emergencies, rescuing abandoned pets, or taking in injured or sick animals from the streets, we try to act as quickly as possible to provide immediate care or help.
Once rescued, the dogs and cats receive medical attention and rehabilitation before being placed in loving homes.
We run a dog refuge where abandoned, sick and neglected dogs are cared for and nursed back to health. Our cat friends are fostered by families we know and trust.
However, these rescue efforts put significant strain on our limited resources, making financial support crucial. Find out more about our costs on this page!
HELPING LOCAL PETS THROUGH PATA ASSIST
Through our PATA Assist program, we extend support to families in need, helping cover the costs associated with the illness or sterilization of their pets.
This initiative allows us to not only support the animals at our shelter but also to prevent suffering and overpopulation in the community by providing assistance for veterinary care and spaying/neutering.
CASTRATION CLINICS
Spaying and neutering helps prevent suffering and is an integral part of what we do.
Homeless cats and dogs suffer as strays. These animals are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering.
We offer low cost spay/neuter surgery to the local community, which we subsidize. The cost to community members is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. Spaying and neutering is the most effective way to reduce the number of animals suffering on the streets.
Our clinics are key to our efforts in combating the overpopulation of dogs and cats. These clinics are made possible through donations, but we urgently need funds to continue offering these vital services. Sterilization is a long-term solution, but without increased financial support, we may not be able to maintain these clinics at the frequency needed, which is currently approximately every 2 months.
TRAP, CASTRATE & RELEASE PROGRAMS
Pretty much every community in our area has a stray cat population and they multiply rapidly. These poor cats are not vaccinated, and are typically malnourished therefore are prone to infectious diseases which result in a short and poor quality life. What we currently do is prevent suffering and more unwanted kittens by locating cat colonies in specific areas, trapping males and females, castrating them, and then releasing them back into their environment.
We also ensure that these cat communities get regular, good quality food and we have volunteers that monitor their health.
FINDING FOSTER FAMILIES
Foster families play a vital role in temporarily caring for healthy dogs and cats, which allows us to rescue more animals that may be sick or injured and in need of intensive care. However, medical treatments for these animals require financial resources that we struggle to gather.
Every foster family lightens our burden while providing a safe, nurturing environment for the animals. This is team work at its best!
If you want to learn more about fostering a dog or a cat, click here
FINDING FOREVER HOMES
We work hard to ensure that every dog and cat finds a permanent home suited to their needs.
We do have requirements and we kindly ask you to fill out an adoption form so we can learn a little more about you and the type of companion you're looking for.
Both local and international adoptions are great victories for each pet, but they also involve costs for medical care, vaccines, and transportation. Often, we lack the funds necessary to cover these expenses, which delays the adoption process.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Our community-outreach program aims to connect pet owners with the resources and education they need to keep their animals happy and healthy. PATA travels to places where there are no veterinary services, to provide castration surgeries and wellness clinics that offer low-cost vaccinations, medications and general examinations. We teach pet owners how to identify the signs of illness, disease or accidents, so that they can treat their animal before illness or injury progresses to a more serious stage.
The program also aims to control feral cat populations by trapping and neutering. PATA requires volunteers in the community to help coordinate clinics and gather information, as well as collaboration with local businesses to help with funding. Please contact us if you would like to help and/or get involved.
GLOBAL GIVING
Through Global Giving, we can present our financial needs to an international audience. This platform allows us to collect donations from around the world, helping cover the significant costs associated with caring for dogs and cats, especially for emergency veterinary cases.
Without this international support, we would be unable to meet the growing demands of our shelter.
Check out our amazing long term project for PATA!
AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA
Amigos of Costa Rica provides another valuable avenue for receiving donations while offering U.S. donors tax benefits. This partnership is crucial for attracting international support, especially for long-term projects such as improving shelter infrastructure or funding specialized medical care for the dogs and cats in our care.
Check out this other way to support us!
Social media plays a crucial part in our survival. Having a following helps us find forever homes, get donations, meet new volunteers, and work with other rescues, the list goes on!
If you're not already, please follow us on social media to stay updated on our efforts, learn about the dogs and cats we rescue, and support our mission as a volunteer or donor:
ABOUT PATA
How does PATA function financially?
PATA is an officially registered non profit here in Costa Rica. We do not receive any government or charity funding.
We rely solely on donations and money we manage to raise with our local events.
Are you getting paid to run PATA?
No we’re not. We’re dedicating our lives 24/7 but can’t afford to pay anyone, including ourselves.
Do you have cats at the refuge?
No. Our shelter is quite small which would make cats and dogs living together a bit tricky. Cats are usually in foster homes while we supervise their recovery and adoption.
Can you rescue horses or wild life?
No. We "only" rescue cats and dogs.
Why can’t I find PATA’s location?
Sadly we try to avoid having cats and dogs dumped at the refuge. We only communicate this information to people who come to volunteer or adopt.
Do you do boarding?
No we can’t. We have a very limited space and unfortunately almost always have a waiting list for new rescues needing our help.
DOGS AROUND SAMARA
Are there a lot of strays in Samara?
Although it might seem like it, usually the dogs you see walking around town or on the beach do have owners. Because Samara is a small town, our amazing community keeps an eye out and if a “new” dog shows up, we’re alerted right away.
I think I found an abandoned dog, what should I do?
Most of the time, wandering dogs do have owners. We always advise to post pictures on social media first. Our community is great at knowing the dogs, their owners and their story.
Can I bring a dog directly to the refuge?
No. Because our rescues live together, we have a strict policy about new comers.
We never let a new dog in without having a vet check up. We just can’t risk bringing something contagious to the refuge.
Can I surrender my pet to PATA?
No you can’t. Our shelter has a limited space and most of the time we’re functioning over our maximum capacity.
We have a long list of dogs we want to take off the streets.
Can you help me rehome my pet?
Unfortunately, we can’t. We have our hands full and we have a lot of fur friends looking for their forever homes.
If for any reason you can’t keep your dog, we recommend posting about it on social media and trying to find a good place for them.
ADOPTION PROCESS
Are there requirements to adopt a PATA pet?
Yes there are. We want to make sure our rescues end up in a safe place and that you can provide them all the love, care and medical attention they need. Just fill out an adoption form and we’ll get in touch with you.
Can I adopt a dog if I don’t live in Samara or even in Costa Rica?
Yes you can. If you’re the right fit, we’ll do everything we can to help with transport.
Some of our dogs even flew to the US or Canada, thanks to amazing flight volunteers!
What if things don't work out with the pet I just adopted?
All of our animals are rescues. They come with their own stories, and we usually ask that you try to spend a week with them, to give them time to adjust (it can take months for a fur friend to feel completely at home!).
We want you and your new best friend to have the best experience and life ever. So we're always available to hear how things are going and maybe give you tips if you feel like you need some.