Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

August 11, 2008

In over three years in Santiago, I don’t think I would be exaggerating if I said I’ve passed thousands of stray dogs on the street. I’m actually quite terrified of dogs so living in this city has been somewhat of a traumatic experience.

Providencia, the neighborhood where I currently live is more hoity toity and therefore has less of a canine problem. But, when I used to go running in Estacion Central, I’d have to bring a stick with me to fend off packs of wild dogs. Ok, so the situation was not really that dramatic, but there really were packs of dogs that roamed the streets and scared the shit out of me.

I’d be lying if I said that stray dogs “me dan pena,” or make me feel pity for them. In all honesty, I’m not an animal person…at all. It’s quite the opposite in fact. Animals are smelly, hairy, and gross and I am always baffled by people who choose to advocate animal rights when there are so many human beings suffering in this world. I know that’s a controversial statement, but that’s the way I’ve always felt and still do.

All that being said can’t quite explain the fact, why now, I have a little black bundle of slobber and love curled up next to me on my futon.

The vet said she’s about 7 months old and won’t grow any larger than her current size (8.5 kilos). We found her on the street on Saturday night. Our friend was getting married at a beautiful Catholic church less than a 20 minute walk from our house. S. and I watched our good friend say his “I do’s,” with his then girlfriend, now wife. I cried, S. clapped, yaddi yaddi yadda. After all was said and done, we walked out to mingle with the people outside the church, all the while dodging a terrifying “tia” aka, aunt giving us the evil eye — maybe due to the fact that at normal Chilean weddings, women wear long prom dress styles and I was wearing a mini with tights — or maybe she was hating because she had loaned us some mattresses for my family to sleep on when they were down for the wedding almost two years ago and we still haven’t arranged a drop off time to give them back (extenuating circumstances, I’m not even kidding). So we ran off to the side where no tia could hunt us down and give us the devil stare. Lo and behold, we happened upon a little black puppy running on only three paws.

She paused next to me and looked into my eyes. Her look didn’t say, “I’m needy and pathetic.” Instead it said, “I’ve happened upon some trying times on these streets but I’m still fun and awesome!” I knelt down and petted her, something I have never done to a street dog or even to many house dogs. Long story short, she followed us from the church home and now she lives with us.

I’ve named her Papito and will be posting pictures soon — mad props to all dog photographers, never before did I realize how hard it is to make a an energetic little ball of fur stay still for longer than .25 seconds.

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15 Comments

hahaha, congrats to the proud parents!

Comment by Maeskizzle — August 11, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

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Papito… it’s quite a name for a female…

stray dogs are a national trouble. did u ever see before stray siberian dogs?

Comment by j4ur14 — August 12, 2008 @ 6:22 am

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She must be pretty cute if she won over your cold heart, can’t wait to meet her! And J4ur, in the park where my dog and I go, three Siberians that everyone calls the lobos watch over everything. They’re harmless, but my dog is still afraid of them since they stole her ball once.

Comment by Emily — August 12, 2008 @ 7:01 am

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Hooray! Welcome to the “dog people’ tribe. I want photos!

So does she only have 3 legs, or is something wrong with one of her legs?

Comment by Lisa B. — August 12, 2008 @ 7:33 am

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She’s missing a toe on one of her paws. So she walks just fun, but she runs three legged gimpy. It’s part of her charm

Comment by Mamacita Chilena — August 12, 2008 @ 7:36 am

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Congrats, puppies are so much fun!! Have fun with her, I can’t wait to see pictures. I have learned that if you just keep taking pictures, eventually you will get a cute one!!

Comment by Shannon — August 12, 2008 @ 8:11 am

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Haha!

I feel the same way you felt about animals towards insects, even more so. And while I won’t go to great pains to save an insect, I do recognize that we share a kinship in some sense, even if I find them so alien as to be repulsive.

Now, when are you going to post pictures?

Comment by Ordinary Girl — August 12, 2008 @ 8:35 am

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ah i hate stray dogs too! well the crazy ones that aren’t cute anyway. in guatemala rabid dogs always tried to attack me. i think they could smell my fear. supposedly looking dogs in the eye makes them feel threatened. ever since guatemala, i am scared to pet dogs!

Comment by kumichan83 — August 12, 2008 @ 10:15 am

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Welcome to pet ownership! Your life will never be the same again. It is also good practice for when you have children. Can’t wait to see photos.

Comment by Reb — August 12, 2008 @ 12:59 pm

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Hhaahaa. Congrats to the happy parents and welcome to the dark (yet dog loving) side. If you need training help, I am here for you

Comment by Clare — August 12, 2008 @ 1:28 pm

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Human beings have the minds and power to fight for their own rights. Animals need someone of sound conscience to speak for them. They don’t know how to lie, and they have more compassion and integrity than many people I’ve encountered. That, and they are a good judge of character. You should feel so lucky that Papito chose to follow you home, and not that you chose to let her.

Comment by EvilJoy — August 12, 2008 @ 5:28 pm

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Joy, I love you too much to even get into this topic with you. So let’s just agree to disagree.

I do feel lucky that Papito chose to follow me home though! She isn’t missing a paw, just a finger or two on one of her back paws. She can walk fine, but she runs on three legs. The vet said there’s nothing we can do and she was just born that way.

Comment by Mamacita Chilena — August 12, 2008 @ 5:31 pm

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Kumichan, I was bit by a massive stray dog when I was 13 living in Chile! Every since then I’ve been afraid of dogs too. Now that I have Papito I’m even more scared of other bigger strays because they’re so much bigger than she is and me walking a little dog seems to attract them.

Comment by Mamacita Chilena — August 12, 2008 @ 5:32 pm

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I guess I feel for any helpless being, whether it walks on 2 legs or 4. And animal charities certainly don’t take away from people charities, so I see no reason we should not be compassionate to all living things.

Comment by heatherinparadise.com — August 13, 2008 @ 8:20 am

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She’s so cute!!! I’m so jealous, I’ve been wanting to adopt a puppy for ages and hubby wont let me ’cause he says dogs shouldn’t be cooped up in apartments.

But hey! You guys also live in an apartment and I bet once he sees Papito’s cute little puppy eyes I might finally get away with it…

Fned.

Comment by Fned — August 19, 2008 @ 1:49 am

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