Besides all the problems one can find when moving to Costa Rica, there’s one that takes longer to notice, but it’s no less serious: pets. Ticos consider and handle pets in an entirely different way than Americans, and not at all better. Pets are considered an optional responsibility by Tico pet owners. Therefore, should a pet do something that could be considered a nuisance or a threat to the health or safety of others, their Tico owners attribute it to the animal’s nature. They accept it as such, disregarding any social norms or respect for others.
Being normally a subject of quarrels between neighbors – rarely reported to the authorities because culturally, pets are considered free creatures innately. Tico pet owners allow their animals to bark, poop, run around and bite whoever and wherever. Everybody has to be OK with it because they are only “animalitos,” as they call them, “they do not know any better, porecitos!”
This ignorant attitude and lack of responsibility towards proper pet handling escalated to a level where Costa Rica was accused of violating Human Rights. Allowing the mauling of a Nicaraguan citizen by 2 Rottweilers in 2005, in the presence and negligence of 8 police officers.
