Seated in the front seat of the cab coming from the Cusco airport on the way to our hostel, I saw this little terrier trot the road in front of us in the crosswalk when the light was allowing his crossing: the safest place and time to cross as the traffic was aggressive and impatient. This dog was one of the first Peruvian dogs we would encounter during our time in the country, and by no means the last.
Our next day, we explored the historic section of Cusco. When we found the central plaza there were many dogs under the benches. I believed them to be owned by one of the many families seated around the great fountain featuring an Incan king. How could these dogs who seemed to be mostly purebred be strays? The longer I was in Peru the more I realized that these carefree and playful dogs were in fact out on their own. The question became more important: how do they survive?
In at least the Cusco region of Peru from what we understand, there are no formal veterinary hospitals per se, but rather veterinarians that go from house to house and treat dogs as necessary. Very few cats were observed. This was most likely due to not being a preferred pet compared to the dogs, and potentially the dog population keeps them down. The few cats that do exist stay to the rooftops and interior areas. Their numbers are not as large as they are in other areas of the world.
So why the number of stray dogs? It seems that dogs are a contributing member of the family in Peru. Once they no longer contribute, they are kicked out to fend for themselves. We suspect that as a dog ages and does need additional care, or if the family cannot afford another mouth to feed, the dog would be the first to go.
During our time in Peru almost all the dogs were sleeping and healthy looking. Every dog typically had a water bowl, some dog food scattered nearby, and often a half sandwich or something similar. We also noticed in the supermarkets the bags of dog food came with a bowl. In speaking with a local resident, we came to understand that many of the dogs are cared for by tourists with the local population showing indifference towards them. While this may be partially true, in the many places we saw dogs they were being cared for by locals as well as the passing tourists.
I once heard a quote by Gandhi in which a society is judged by how they treat their weakest members. This quote has been used to defend women, the homeless, and also the animals. Given the Peruvian people’s treatment of their dogs, I have to appreciate that the animals are at least left to live as part of the society. I never saw an instance of an animal being injured or harassed. They were left to sleep in busy areas, and also given consideration to have food and water. While the Peruvian people could do a lot more to ensure the well being of their canine companions, they at least provide a place to live. Our experience may be the exception to the rule though. There are dogs that need care. Check out the links below and help if you can.
To see some of the dogs, check out my website, Street Dogs of Peru
If you want to learn more, click here: Peru Street Dogs Assistance (Unaffiliated)