Happenings in March 2007 !

Among the many experiences I have had with dogs down here in Chile while working with the La Protectora is finding a Dogo Argentino in my house.

Friday night had hosted a Welcome Back Bruce party. The party was mostly outside and one of the uninvited guests was a friendly Pit Bull looking dog. He was very friendly and people were feeding him. As it got late, he slept like a baby while people moved around him.

The next day I kind of hoped that he moved on like the other thousands of dogs in the streets. Here, we don't have the resources to care for dogs that appear to care for themselves. Anyway he was still around, so I fed him some more and my landlord indicated that it wasn't a problem to have him around a couple of days as he was very nice.

I put out some ads for a "found dog" and hoped that being a rare breed here, he had an owner. Nobody has appeared. When with me, he is ok but he won't stay alone. I can't keep him alone in the house because he will destroy it, I can't keep him in the patio because he screams like crazy or wants to kill the neighbor's cocker, I can't put him on the street because he will either follow me or kill another dog. We can't take him at La Protectora because he will kill the other dogs and our cages for antisocials are already full. If I take him out on the street with a leash, I have to worry about every street dog that wants to dominate him.

Saturday, he almost killed a dog. I went downtown and of course he followed. Another dog came up and tried to dominate him. He ripped into the other dog with force. Stupid and lucky me - I tried to break it up by kicking and then grabbing his back legs. I practically picked up both dogs, but he would not let go. The other dog screamed and just wanted to escape. Some young boys jumped into the mess, kicking and grabbing but still nothing. I practically stood on his neck. Traffic is stopped; people are looking and yelling advice. Finally somebody spilled hot coffee on the dog and he let go of the other. I couldn't tell if there other dog was badly hurt, but not too much blood, so... Wow, now people were yelling at me, telling me I had a dangerous dog. Others asking me where I got the dog. The dog is looking at me for advice. After all the kicking we did, he only showed a little stiffness that night. This dog is pure bone and muscle and has a mind of his own.

Dago Argentino is complicated breed!

One recent call was an abuse neglect case. The dogs have been chained inside an old bus without food and water. The neighbors have been taking care of them and tried to approach the owners! They finally called us and we went out with the Carabineros (police). We now have to testify to the conditions.

Money, of course is always an issue, so we are looking for new resources. I thought working the tourists who arrive on the big cruise ships might be a good idea. They are a little cheap though. While taking a $7,000+ trip, they don't have much money to give. I found Chileans tourists to be much more generous. Maybe I don't know how to ask.

He is Ok with the neighbors	Dogo	Not good at posing
Ok in house	Out in the country	Sleeps like a baby
Chained in a bus	Help from the police	The neighbors check