A heartbreaking scene took place when a very emaciated dog collapsed, unable to bear any more. His frantic attempt to rest on a pile of rags was thwarted by a small chain wrapped tightly around his neck, leaving his head hanging aimlessly.

Cala, the battered dog, had been hired as a guard dog by a mechanic in San José, Costa Rica. Unfortunately, his caregiver did not provide him with proper nutrition or seek veterinary care when he became ill. Cala’s health gradually worsened and keeping her head up became a battle for every breath. With time running out, concerned neighbors stepped in, informed local authorities and contacted humanitarian staff at Territorio de Zaguates, a well-known local sanctuary dedicated to the well-being of thousands of dogs.

Lya Battle, the creator of the Zaguates Territory, felt deep sorrow and fury upon seeing Cala’s plight. ‘The first photo I saw of her showed a pitiful creature stripped of her dignity and ready to give up: a dog whose spirit had been broken and was just waiting for the end to come while living a never-ending nightmare,’ Battle told The New York Times. Cala was quickly removed from her tormentor’s property by police and sanctuary staff who responded to her distress call. She was taken to a veterinarian, who treated her acute emaciation as well as wounds caused by the constriction of the chain. Subsequently, Cala found refuge in the Zaguates Territory, where he began a path of physical and mental recovery.

Cala had to endure harsh procedures to repair her injuries, especially the cut inflicted by years of hanging from the cruel metal chain around her neck. Despite the agony, Cala realized that love and rewards came after heartbreak, and she persevered through every stage of her rehabilitation. Cala’s wariness of her canine companions first led Battle to believe that she had never met other dogs or had been raised to view them as rivals. However, confidence grew over time in her contacts with other dogs, as well as with the loving people around her.

“We watched Cala go from a weak, depressed animal, too despondent to care, to a stronger creature willing to fight back,” Battle said. “We could also see that stubborn creature incorporating games and silliness into his daily routine over time. We saw more of his personality emerge with each passing day. “She went from being terrified of humans to trusting them and even ‘annoying’ them to get their attention.” However, Cala’s difficulties were far from over. In June, malicious individuals broke into the sanctuary and planted poisoned sausages, claiming the lives of 16 innocent dogs. Cala had accidentally consumed one of the sausages, but surprisingly had survived.

When we found her, Cala was still alive,” Battle said. “Maybe her size helped her tolerate the dose, or maybe she just took a small bite.” However, Cala had been rescued. Eventually, he struggled with neurological disorders for a long time after that, but eventually recovered. She is simply too strong! Battle thinks there are no coincidences in life. Cala’s survival, despite years of neglect, abuse, hunger and illness, serves as proof of her unbreakable spirit. The humans reappeared, eager to cause pain, just as they discovered that life was worth the wait. While the sanctuary mourned the loss of other beloved dogs, Cala’s remarkable survival reflected her tenacity

Cala, who is currently in a foster family, delights in the amount of love and care lavished on her. Despite years of abuse, torment, and imprisonment, Cala is gradually discarding her past and adopting mischievous instincts, a development her adoptive mother gladly accepts. ‘After years of neglect, torture and incarceration, Cala seems to be going through the mischievous phase that puppies usually go through, and we all think that’s okay,’ Battle said. ‘She is happy, strong, stubborn, a little stubborn and spoiled by her adoptive mother and her family.’

With a lifetime of saving dogs under his belt and many more to come, Battle finds Cala’s story particularly inspiring. It depicts an epic battle between good and evil, hate and love, with love triumphing.

.

“This rescue is an inspiring story of love triumphing over adversity and serves as a reminder to never give up,” Battle said. “It reaffirms our determination to fight the good fight for a little while longer.”