Guard dogs are a common sight in many parts of the world, often evoking fear in strangers—and that’s usually the point. But when people passed by Cala, a dog tethered outside a car dealership in San Jose, Costa Rica, fear wasn’t what they felt. It was heartbreak.

Cala wasn’t intimidating—she was suffering.

Her owner had starved her, denied her medical care, and left her chained so tightly that she couldn’t even rest her head.

Day after day, Cala sat on an old tire, her neck tethered with a short chain that bit into her skin and held her head upright in agonizing tension.

She was so weak from neglect, so emaciated and sick, that standing was no longer an option.

Her breathing became labored. Her spirit—crushed.

And without help, Cala was surely going to die.

Territorio de Zaguates
But someone noticed.

A concerned neighbor who had seen Cala’s decline finally called the police, who then reached out to the local animal sanctuary Territorio de Zaguates. The team responded immediately, though they knew it wouldn’t be easy.

A Life Robbed of Dignity

When Lya Battle, founder of the shelter, first saw Cala’s condition, the image left a permanent mark.

“I felt desperately sad and frustrated,” she told The Dodo. “The picture I first saw of her showed a pitiful creature robbed of its 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.

Cala was quickly removed from her abusive environment and rushed to a vet. The damage was devastating—deep, infected wounds from the chain, extreme malnourishment, and emotional trauma that ran just as deep.

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She then began her recovery journey at Territorio de Zaguates.

The Road to Healing

Healing wasn’t instant—far from it. The wounds were slow to mend, and Cala had clearly never experienced kindness before. She seemed terrified of the other dogs and deeply wary of humans. Volunteers feared she had been trained to fight, maybe even kill.

But over time, something incredible happened.

Cala began to trust. She slowly started interacting with other dogs. She let the volunteers near her. And then, one day, she wagged her tail. Each little moment felt like a breakthrough.

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“She went from fearing humans to trusting them and even ‘bugging’ them for attention,” Lya said with a smile.

A Survivor in Every Sense

Just when Cala’s life was beginning to turn around, tragedy struck again. In a horrific act of cruelty, someone broke into the sanctuary and planted poisoned sausages. Sixteen dogs died.

Cala had eaten one of the sausages—but against all odds, she survived. Her size may have saved her, but the poison left her with neurological issues for a time. Even then, Cala refused to give up.

She fought through years of starvation, isolation, abuse, and now attempted murder. And somehow, through it all, her spirit refused to break entirely.

A Second Chance at Life

Today, Cala is living the life she always deserved. She’s now with a loving foster family, showered with care, warmth, and the freedom to simply be a dog.

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Her story, shared across the globe, has inspired thousands and reminded people everywhere that resilience lives even in the most broken hearts.

As for Lya Battle, who has rescued countless animals over the years—Cala is a dog she’ll never forget.

“She’s a survivor,” Lya says. “And her story is one I’ll carry with me forevEr.