Owner launches campaign for ‘justice’ after Pomeranian dies from dog attack

A yoga instructor who received a $4,000 payout after her 7-year-old Pomeranian died after being attacked by another dog in Costa Rica is now campaigning online for further compensation and to raise awareness about her ordeal.

Elise Caldarola and her husband, Sal, were staying in Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica, for her five-week residency at Nereus Retreats when their dog, Gingko, was fatally attacked by a larger dog owned by the retreat. The couple, from Westchester County, New York, stayed off-site near the retreat.

On May 29, while Sal Caldarola was walking their two leashed dogs on a quiet beach near their AirbnbThe retreat’s dog, Girli, approached from behind and attacked Gingko. Elise described her husband’s shock as he fought to protect Gingko. “Sal was alone and desperate,” she said Newsweek.

Gingko suffered serious injuries and, despite hours of surgery and extensive veterinary care, died on June 20 after her wounds became infected. “She fought so hard, but in the end we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go,” Elise said.

Stuart Millar, who co-owns Nereus Retreats with his wife Jen, said Newsweek that Girli was off-leash and playing with neighborhood dogs on the beach, which he said is routine for dogs in the area.

“The beach where we live is quite remote…(Girli) must have seen the unknown little dogs and thought they were wild animals,” Millar explained, adding that Girli was out of sight when she returned to the house.

Elise said they filed a report with the Costa Rican animal health organization SENASA, but received only an acknowledgment of receipt. Newsweek also contacted SENASA for comment.

In the months following the incident, disagreements over financial compensation have arisen between the Caldarolas and the retreat. Elise said Nereus initially offered to cover all vet and travel costs, but later provided a single payment. “At first, Jen accepted responsibility, apologized and promised to pay all of our vet bills,” Elise said.

Millar said Nereus donated $4,000 for Gingko’s care, which he said was “more than what is typical” for such incidents in Costa Rica. “We don’t know how to proceed… We think it would be an excessive response (to do more) as Girli’s behavior was never a concern before this incident,” he said.

The sanctuary owner also said they have since taken steps to prevent future incidents, including the construction of a fenced area for Girli.

“Immediately after the incident, we installed a fence around our home to keep Girli out at all times,” Millar said.

According to Millar, the pet culture in Costa Rica is more relaxed than in the United States, with many dogs roaming freely on beaches and in neighborhoods. He said Girli may have reacted instinctively in the jungle-like area. Girli, who they adopted as a stray during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a “sweet, loving family pet” and popular among guests, Millar added.

In Costa Rica, dog attacks between two pets fall within a complex legal landscape. Angie Vega, an animal law fellow at Michigan State University, explained Newsweek that pursuing compensation after the death of a pet can be difficult.

“Filing for the loss of a pet depends on factors such as whether the attacking dog was considered dangerous or leashed,” she said, adding that because dogs are treated as property under Costa Rican law, compensation claims may be limited .

Some Costa Rican laws concern pet safety, including Article 7(d) of the Animal Welfare Act, which mandates safety measures for pets in public areas. Article 1045 of the Civil Code also allows claims for damages caused by negligence. SENASA can also issue health orders against negligent pet owners, although this usually requires repeat violations.

Despite these measures, Elise remains deeply hurt and critical of what she described as “broken promises” of the retreat.

“They left us alone in our greatest time of need,” she said. “For a place that preaches healing and non-harm, their actions have demonstrated anything but that.”

Elise has since started working TikTok to share Gingko’s story under the post @justiceforgingko, explaining: “Our ideal outcome is for our agreed-upon bills to be paid in full, but that’s not why we share our story. It’s not about money. We want to protect others and honor Gingko’s memory.”

Millar expressed his frustration with Elise’s posts, which he said misrepresented the situation and had a negative impact on the centre’s reputation. “We are saddened by this terrible accident and have made changes to ensure safety,” he said.