When Tania Cappulleti set out on an incredibly hot Sunday in
Costa Rica, her intention was to find a very shy cream-colored Dehydrated Stray
Dog who she had seen for the past week.
Though Tania was unable to find the dog she was originally looking for, she
did find another who was in desperate need of rescue.
Sitting along the side of a dusty road, far from any town, was a black
emaciated dog for whom Tania immediately pulled her car over.
Tania told DoggiesCare that her first thoughts when she saw this dog were
similar to those she has when she sees any stray.
As soon as Tania approached this sweet pup, the dog fell onto the road,
crying.
“When she saw our car stopping and me and Blendan getting
out — she started to walk towards us [and] was actually crawling — and when she
was in front of us she collapsed and cried and cried and cried [with] joy,
pain, thirst and hunger.”
Upon further inspection, it was discovered that not only was this discarded
dog covered in fleas and ticks, she was also extremely dehydrated.
Her condition didn’t deter her from expressing her gratitude to her
rescuers.
“She was so sweet and gentle, we all fell in love with her
right away!”
Tania and the two volunteers who were with her, Blendan Thomas and Olivia
Mocillo, gave the dog (who they named Gaia) small amounts of food and water.
Apparently, rescuing Gaia couldn’t have come at a more needed time, as
Tania told DoggiesCarePost:
“We carried her out of the sun into the little shade there
was on the side of the road and gave her water.
She drank and drank and drank, but she didn’t stand up – she
was too weak.”
Tania, it should be noted, is a co-founder of Charlie’s Angels Animal
Rescue, a “foundation that offers temporary care and residence for abandoned
dogs in extreme physical condition or who are victims of abuse.”
After Tania rescued Gaia, she was transferred to a foster. Who originally
agreed to take the cream-colored dog that Tania began searching for.
When Tania arrived at the foster home with Gaia in tow, there was some
confusion.
“They were a bit surprised because they expected us to show
up with the cream colored Labrador. We checked with them beforehand if they
would foster the Lab. When we showed up with Gaia, they were like, ‘What?
We thought it was a cream-colored dog?’ I said, ‘Yeah but
now we found her instead.’ They said no problem, we [will] take her as well.”
Gaia was then taken to the vet. Where it was determined she didn’t need
much medical care despite the condition she was found in.
…[W]e gave her flea drops and took all the ticks out of her.
When she got to the vet she just needed de–worming and vaccines. She is a super
healthy young girl!”
Gaia ended up spending five weeks in her foster home before her new mom.
Johanne Froment, saw her photo posted to the Facebook page of Osa Peninsula
Rescue and Adoptions, a Costa Rican organization that offers spay and neuter
services as well as adoption services.
Gaia high–fiving her new mom, Johanne.
Now Gaia spends her days playing with her new mom, her two cat brothers. Tigré
and Sacha, and enjoying her favorite past time – going to the beach.
“Gaia[‘s] favorite activity is to [go] for a walk to the
beach. [J]ust seeing the leash she start[s] jumping and mak[ing] funny
noise[s]….[S]he really like[s] being hug[ged] in [the] water [so] she can stay
there for a long time.”
As Johanne shared withDoggiesCarePost, Gaia is blossoming in her new home.
“Gaia [has] a very nice personality! [S]he is very social
and always want[s] to play!…She like[s] to be pet a lot. I think she is very
happy with us now.”
The last two images were sourced from Johanne Froment,
Gaia’s new mom.