its ever-forgiving nature.

That's probably the most valuable thing in a dog

and it's also its biggest pitfall because

we have dogs here who've been horribly hurt by

human beings and yet all they want to do

is find somebody else to love.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Around the world strays, mutts

and street dogs are victims of stigma.

In Costa Rica, Lya Battle is trying to change that story.

She runs the Territorio de Zaguates

It's a lush haven for stray dogs to either be

adopted or live out the rest of their days.

- Territorio de Zaguates stands for land of the mutts.

My name's Lya Battle, better known as crazy dog lady,

I guess.

I started Territorio de Zaguates partly because

I've always loved animals, all animals.

But it wasn't in my plans, it wasn't like I set out

to do this.

The need for this, I think all over the world is

because there's a huge stigma around a dog

that doesn't have a breed.

They'll let mutts wander on the streets

or they'll actually toss them on the streets

because they're not breed dogs.

The solution isn't euthanizing a dog.

The solution is make sure it's not born in the first place.

Once it's here, do something good for it.

Find a home or if not at least offer him a place

where he can be in peace and happy.

- [Narrator] Keeping Territorio up and running

is no easy feat.

They eat $500 a day in food alone.

Lya has to work a full time job to keep all the dogs

fed and healthy.

- Territorio stays about partly through miracles,

I think.

Keeping this afloat is a huge task.

It's a labor of love.

You can't pay someone to care for an animal, truly,

to remember their names, to be gentle to them.

- [Narrator] While this place is a dog heaven, nothing

beats getting adopted by a loving family.

- [Lya] I say it's like kids at Kindergarten.

They love their friends at school, but oh,

they all want to go home to Mom and Dad.

(upbeat music) (barking)