Animal Love-Costa Rica built a playground for dogs with AKI's Animal Welfare grant
Animal Love Rescue Center in Costa Rica received a grant (our 2026 Animal Welfare Organization Grant Program) to build an outdoor park for resident dogs, providing space for running, playing, and to increase physical enrichment, reduce kennel stress, and improve adoptability.
The Rescue Center currently houses around 1600 animals. Despite Animal Love's ongoing efforts and creative strategies to increase adoptions, the number of animals in need often exceeds the Rescue Center's available space, creating a constant need for expansion and improved facilities. We agreed that an outdoor play area would greatly increase the quality of life for the resident dogs while they await forever homes.
Animal Love completed the play area in August and Animal Love reported that "resident dogs now have access to a dedicated, secure outdoor space where they can play, socialize, and spend more time outside of their kennels. The playground has increased opportunities for daily physical and mental enrichment and has become part of the dogs' regular care routine. By providing additional space and opportunities for activity, the project is helping to reduce kennel stress and improve the overall welfare and quality of life of dogs while they wait for adoption."
It turns out that the grant project had an even bigger impact than providing play space. Animal Love told us, "The project has also encouraged us to continue investing in infrastructure that improves the quality of life of the animals in our care, including plans to build an outdoor cat park for approximately 250 cats and create additional enrichment spaces for dogs."
Located in San Ramon, Costa Rica, about one hour away from La Fortuna, Animal Love Rescue Center's mission is to "save lives and rescue animals in need, prevent cruelty and educate the community to care for animal rights, adoption, and find permanent, forever homes." At the time of this writing, Animal Love Rescue Center-Costa Rica has over 600 dogs and 450 cats, plus at least 300 farm animals (horses, chickens, goats, and sheep).
