Chile Forum

Animal psychologists, what is the meaning?

OK, we all know about the stray dog problem in Chile. But there have been two instances that are strange to me that AFAIK I did not instigate.

A couple of years ago when I was living in Santiago Centro, I riskily (actually for me normal) walked from Las Condes to Centro along Providencia-Alameda in the early hours. Somewhere in Providencia, this stray German Shepherd type mix began following me and accompanies me all the way to el Centro till it heartbreakingly made a stupid mistake and probably broke a leg by jumping on a sidewalk ledge that suddenly ended as an overpass near the artesenal market at Cerro Santa Lucia.

Two days ago, this beautiful Irish Setter type dog just happened to meet up with me along Barros Lucos from an opening to the Paseo Bellamar in San Antonio and obediently followed by my side (I did nothing to encourage this) till I reached my destination (the Tottus supermarket) where I dashed inside to ditch my involuntary faithful companion. When I got out of the market about 45 minutes later and got on the micro bus back to my residence, I saw the same dog along the sidewalk outside I think searching for me.

Strange stuff that I may be missing the message on.

Greg attracts stray dogs everywhere...they seem drawn to him (hence my attraction to him as well). Seriously, I think dogs have a strong sense, a keen eye for otherwise unobserved body language in people who are kind and good. I know you are probably a tough guy, so I don't mean you are a "sensative fellow", but I've seen strays and owned pets gravitate towards Greg all over in our travels. I love animals very much, but they don't follow, ever.

Just my uneducated guess. Good soul.

I might add that wounded animals seem to find their way to me. Happened many times, birds, cats, dogs. We were in Temuco for medical stuff, renting a tiny place and I went out to go to walk to the store and a huge white husky dog was injured and curled up by the sidewalk in front of our place. Possibly chance, I know. I got a vet to come and take him to his clinic. He was too old and ill to make it which was sad. This has happened since I was a kid but I never thought much of it until your post.

Greg attracts stray dogs everywhere...they seem drawn to him (hence my attraction to him as well).
Sez ~j, too...
Seriously, I think dogs have a strong sense, a keen eye for otherwise unobserved body language in people who are kind and good.
Also those who nasty and evil... or fearful (of dogs)
Dogs are certainly smart beings... but not as smart as cats...

g~j have been generally "impressed" by the nature and quality of street dogs we have so far encountered in SoAm...(that is to say - Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Peru...)
Much nicer than in Many other places.
Remember... we also say this as biciclistas.
Bikes have a special place in some dog's psyches...

Dogs are symbiotic with humans. Millennia of coexistence have left dogs with a need for human companionship.

Street dogs have no human companion of their own. They'd like to have someone to hang out with, even if it is just for the duration of a walk.

I would guess that what you are doing is not forbidding them to share your company. You allow them to walk with you and so they do.

A visit to Chile is a heartbreaker for people who love dogs. We were driving through a neighborhood in Algarrobo, and sitting in the middle of the street was the cutest little German Shepherd puppy you could imagine. It had no collar and my wife stopped the car and got out to see if it was hurt. It was OK, but there was no owner in sight and the poor little guy was left to fend for itself. She set him off to the sidewalk and we went on our way, but it really bothered her.

A visit to Chile is a heartbreaker for people who love dogs.

Then don't EVER go to Thailand

greg~judy wrote:

A visit to Chile is a heartbreaker for people who love dogs.

Then don't EVER go to Thailand

In that part of the world, stray dogs are often referred to as "dinner".

In that part of the world, stray dogs are often referred to as "dinner"

That's China... it's called huo guo... dog meat.
Lived 6 years in China...
Didn't see too many street dogs.
Probably ate a few
But Thailand...

Buddhism calls for compassion and forbids killing any animal unnecessarily. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation -- and many Thais see dogs as people who may have misbehaved in a past life. That's why some don't feel bad about turning unwanted pups into the street to fend for themselves.

It's much more complex than that...
But believe g~j...
If you really like dogs, Thailand will show you great sorrow.

greg~judy wrote: Thailand will show you great sorrow.

Today, an understatement.

Perhaps out of place on an "allchile" forum... but a sentiment true nonetheless.

g~j's point, to reiterate...
Dogs in Chile seem to be on the Middle Path...
Not too bad off, obviously not well off (holistically, of course)
Ya see, a reincarnation can arguably be in any culture/country
So maybe some of those misbehaving Thai Buddhists are now street-dogs in Chile
And they are learning the meaning of compassion...
Their next rebirth, will undoubtedly be a higher form.
So... be nice to street-dogs...
g~j always greet them with a whistle.
the dogs here in region XV are OK.
we have had a few good walks with one dog...
we always look for her in el centro...
It was cool to watch her interact with other dogs inside/outside her "territory"
Sometimes, we let her choose L/R when we came to decision points
Way cool taking her around the fish docks... and watching her with the lobos.
Once she followed us into/thru a market and we got her a nice reward (100p) from a carniceria.

greg~judy wrote:g~j's point, to reiterate...

sorry, didn't mean to make it seem like I didn't get your point... just the actual phrase "Thailand will show you great sorrow" could not ring truer than today, watching the news online is horrific, and I was just commenting in reference to that...

At this point I would say that reincarnation as a street dog in Chile might in fact be a step up for some... and others would get better treatment. Like I said, wrong place for my comments.