A yoga instructor who received a $4,000 payout after her 7-year-old Pomeranian died after it was attacked by another dog in Costa Rica is now campaigning online for further compensation and to raise awareness of 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, was staying off-site near the retreat.
On May 29, while Sal Caldarola was walking their two leashed dogs on a quiet beach near their Airbnb, the 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 told Newsweek.
Gingko sustained severe 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, told 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 fairly remote…[Girli] must have seen the unfamiliar small dogs and thought they were wild animals," Millar explained, adding that Girli was out of sight as she returned toward the house.
Elise said they filed a report with Costa Rica's animal health agency SENASA but have only received confirmation of receipt. Newsweek also reached out to SENASA for comment.
In the months following the incident, disagreements over financial compensation have emerged between the Caldarolas and the retreat. Elise shared that 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 cover all our vet bills," Elise said.
Millar said that Nereus provided $4,000 toward Gingko's care, which he said "exceeded what's typical" for such incidents in Costa Rica. "We're at a loss to know how to proceed …We feel it would be an outsize reaction [to do more] given that Girli's behavior has never been a concern before this incident," he said.
The retreat owner also said they have since implemented measures to prevent future incidents, including constructing a fenced area for Girli.
"Immediately following the incident, we erected a fence around our house to contain Girli at all times," Millar said.
According to Millar, Costa Rica's pet culture is more relaxed than in the United States, with many dogs roaming freely on beaches and in neighborhoods. He said Girli may have instinctively reacted in the jungle-like area. Girli, whom 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 into a complex legal landscape. Michigan State University Animal Law Fellow Angie Vega told Newsweek that pursuing compensation after a pet's death can be difficult.
"Suing 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 can be limited.
Some Costa Rican laws address pet safety, including Article 7(d) of the Animal Welfare Act, which mandates safety measures for pets in public spaces. The Civil Code's Article 1045 also enables claims for damages caused by negligence. SENASA can also issue health orders against negligent pet owners, though this usually requires repeated violations.
Despite these measures, Elise remains deeply hurt and critical of what she described as "broken promises" from 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 shown anything but that."
Elise has since taken to TikTok to share Gingko's story under the handle @justiceforgingko and explained: "Our ideal outcome is to have our agreed-upon bills paid in full, but that is not why we are sharing our story. The money is not the point. We want to protect others and honor Gingko's memory."
Millar expressed frustration with Elise's posts, which he said misrepresent the situation and negatively impact the center's reputation. "We're saddened by this terrible accident and have made changes to ensure safety," he said.
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