Every dog here deserves
a forever home.
We rescue, rehabilitate, rehome and spay & neuter dogs from one of the most beautiful and biodiverse — and most overlooked — corners of Costa Rica.Registered nonprofit in Costa Rica & 501(c)(3) in the USA.
These dogs have waited long enough.
They’ve been with us the longest. Healthy, loving, and desperately ready for a home of their own.
Koral has been with us for over two years — and she’s never stopped wagging her tail. She lost her front leg to a serious injury, but her spirit is completely unbroken. Energetic, affectionate, and absolutely loves people. She can be vocal and does best as the only dog. Once she trusts you, she is all yours.
- Only dog in home (can be cat-friendly)
- Active family — loves walks & play
- Patient owner who appreciates her voice
- Spayed, vaccinated, microchipped
Henry came back to us after a failed adoption — and he deserves so much better. He had a rough start including a broken leg that healed beautifully, plus thyroid and skin conditions managed with medication. Underneath all that is the sweetest, most playful boy who would thrive in a family with kids. Would do especially well in Southern California.
- Ongoing thyroid medication (manageable cost)
- Great with kids and other dogs
- Would love a California family
- Neutered, vaccinated, microchipped
Dory was found tied to a male dog with no food or water, diagnosed with heartworm and ehrlichia. She fought through full treatment and came out the other side with a wagging tail and zero grudges. She can be vocal and is ready for a home that will finally give her the love she has always deserved.
- Fully treated — heartworm and ehrlichia cleared
- Patient family who loves a vocal dog
- Spayed, vaccinated, microchipped
New faces, big hearts.
Hope is tiny, brave, and absolutely full of love. At just 20 lbs (10 kg), she’s a petite powerhouse with the sweetest nature. She arrived with a severely damaged leg that couldn’t be saved — but she hasn’t let that slow her down for a single second. Good with dogs and cats, up to date with vaccines.
- Good with dogs & cats
- Will be spayed before travel
- Vaccinated & microchipped
- 20 lbs / 10 kg — small & portable!
She was left behind by a foreigner who simply walked away. A local family with very limited resources took her in — but without the means to care for her properly, she deteriorated. By the time she reached us, she was severely emaciated and covered in a painful yeast infection from head to paw.
She is now in veterinary care and fighting hard. She doesn’t have a name yet — maybe that’s yours to give her.
- Currently receiving intensive medical treatment
- Yeast infection under active treatment
- Will need a patient, experienced dog owner
- Sponsorship & donations toward her care welcome
Rex was found in the remote rural community of Cañaza in severe neglect — covered in mange, with a toe eaten away by screwworm and a deep wound on his foot we still can’t fully explain. He was maybe 1 or 2 years old and had clearly never known consistent care.
He spent two weeks in intensive veterinary care, had a toe amputated, and came through it all with his tail still wagging. Now he’s at our rescue center with Yamilet — healing, eating well, and soaking up every bit of love he was denied for so long.
- Currently recovering — not yet available for adoption
- No underlying diseases — otherwise healthy
- Sweet, gentle, and incredibly grateful
- Sponsor his recovery while he heals
“One of the most biodiverse places on Earth — and every creature here deserves protection.”— Osa Peninsula Rescue & Adoptions
on the Osa Peninsula
in the region
“most biologically intense
place on Earth” — Nat. Geo.
tapirs, pumas & more
in this paradise
Born from love.
Built on the Osa.
Osa Rescue began with a single street dog in need — and a decision not to look away.
What started as one person helping one animal has grown into a lifeline for dogs and cats across the Osa Peninsula. Today, we rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals while working closely with local communities to create lasting change.
Since 2013, we have also run free and low-cost spay & neuter clinics relentlessly across the Osa — because preventing suffering at the source is just as important as rescuing from it. To date, we have helped spay and neuter over 4,000 animals in the region.
The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth — home to jaguars, scarlet macaws, tapirs and humpback whales. We believe every creature here deserves protection.
We are a registered nonprofit in Costa Rica, and our US partner Friends of Osa Rescue is a 501(c)(3) in California — because saving dogs is a mission without borders.
Meet Our Team
Janina founded Osa Rescue after moving to Costa Rica in 2011, confronted with the overwhelming reality of abandoned animals on the Osa Peninsula. What began with one dog quickly grew into a lifelong mission.
Today, Janina focuses on fundraising and partnerships, ensuring dozens of animals receive care, medical treatment, and a second chance at life.
Yamilet has been at the heart of Osa Rescue since 2019. Starting as a volunteer in Puerto Jiménez, she became our official Rescue Manager in 2022 and today cares for over 25 dogs with incredible dedication and love.
Her calm, intuitive approach and deep compassion make her truly irreplaceable. 💛
Tracy and Greg are the kind of people every rescue dreams of. For years they have opened their home — and their hearts — to countless dogs on their journey to forever families.
Patient, loving, and endlessly dedicated, they give each dog the stability it needs to heal, trust again, and thrive. We are deeply grateful. 🐾
Help Us Build a Forever Shelter.
For 14 years we have cared for hundreds of dogs from a rented property. The landlord limits what we can do — but our dogs deserve better. We are ready to build something permanent.
📍 Where We Are Today
🌿 Where We Want to Go
Our own land. Our own rules. A true home for every dog.
Right now we rent a house and property. The landlord restricts what we can build, limits our ability to expand, and makes it impossible to create the permanent, hygienic kennels our dogs deserve. We can’t grow. We can’t plan. We are at the mercy of a lease.
Our dream is simple: one hectare of land, away from neighbors, where the dogs can bark freely, play in open spaces, and live in proper kennels designed just for them — while we build the professional rescue operation this peninsula truly needs.
- ~1 hectare of land, far from residential areas
- Permanent, hygienic kennels built to professional standards
- Secure fencing — safe exercise runs for every dog
- Quarantine facilities for medical arrivals
- No more landlord restrictions — ever
🌿 Our Vision — The Dream Shelter
This is what we are working toward — a proper, permanent rescue centre designed around the needs of the animals. Every donation brings this plan one step closer to reality.
🚀 Campaign launching soon!
Fundraising goal: $100,000 USD
GoFundMe & donation details coming soon — sign up via our contact form to be notified when we launch.
What Our Adopters Say
Real stories from the families who opened their hearts — and their homes.
“While vacationing in Costa Rica, we met Ringo — a sweet stray dog who never left our side. We couldn’t imagine leaving without him. Janina made the whole adoption process so smooth and supportive, and Ringo flew home with us to Toronto in 2025. He is the most loving, grateful dog we’ve ever known. We are so thankful for everything Osa Rescue does.”
“We adopted Fresa through Osa Rescue and the experience was incredible from start to finish. She was found in Costa Rica as a hunting dog with mange, nursed back to health, and perfectly matched with us here in Toronto. Communication was flawless, the logistics were seamless, and they truly understood what kind of dog would fit our life. Fresa is now healthy, happy, and honestly the best dog in the world — Costa Rica’s loss is absolutely our gain. Highly recommend. Just be ready to fall completely in love.”
“Janina and Osa Rescue is simply the best! We adopted our pups 12 years ago and it has forever changed our lives. We contacted Janina when visiting the Osa in 2013, after seeing a dog in distress, and that led to us adopting Macha and Tico. The whole experience was amazing and we were supported throughout the process. We have stayed involved and visited many times — and each time we notice the incredible progress on the streets. This is a testament to the constant hard work and dedication by Janina and all who work with her. We will forever be grateful.”
Every action changes a life.
Whether you’re across the ocean or just a flight away, there’s a way for you to make a difference.
Adopt
Distance is no barrier. We have successfully placed dogs with loving families in Costa Rica, the United States, Canada, Germany, and beyond — and we can help you too.
The most affordable and stress-free way to bring your new dog home is through a flight volunteer. This costs far less than cargo and means your dog travels in-cabin with a caring person.
- Janina flies regularly to Germany & Los Angeles — ideal for European & West Coast adoptions
- We handle all paperwork, vaccinations & microchipping
- We match you with the right dog for your lifestyle
- Support throughout the entire journey — we don’t disappear after adoption
Foster
Fostering is one of the most powerful things you can do for a dog in need. By opening your home — even temporarily — you give a dog something the rescue shelter simply cannot: individual attention, one-on-one love, and a calm place to heal.
For dogs recovering from illness, trauma, or extensive medical treatment, a dedicated foster home makes all the difference.
- Short-term or long-term — you decide what works for you
- Especially impactful for medical, trauma & shy recovery cases
- We cover medical costs and provide support throughout
- Many fosters end up adopting — we call it a “foster fail” and we love it
Become a Flight Volunteer
Flying to the US, Canada, or Europe? You could be the reason a dog makes it to their forever home. Flight volunteers travel with a rescue dog in-cabin, bringing them from Costa Rica to their waiting family.
We handle everything at the airport — check-in, paperwork, the carrier. You just show up. The adoptive family meets you on arrival.
- Flights to LA, Chicago, Toronto, Houston, Germany & more
- No experience needed — we prepare everything
- Dogs travel in-cabin in an approved carrier (under the seat)
- One flight of your time = one life completely changed
Donate
Every dog that comes through our doors needs vaccinations, deworming, spaying or neutering — and often much more. Your donation pays for all of it.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) in the USA through Friends of Osa Rescue — US donors can deduct their contributions. Every dollar goes directly to animal care.
- $20 feeds a dog for a month
- $50 covers a spay or neuter
- $150 sponsors the first vet visit of a newly rescued dog — flea & tick treatment, blood work & full check-up
- $500 covers emergency medical treatment of severe cases (amputations, severe mange or disease)
🚀 More ways to give — coming within the next few weeks!
US Bank Transfer · Donor Box · GoFundMe · Zelle · Venmo — stay tuned or sign up to be notified.
Ready to change a life?
osarescue@gmail.com
+506-8725-5077
+1-805-660-7697
Puerto Jiménez, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica