Dogs, dogs, dogs

The dog thing is starting to get to me here in Mexico. I don't mean my perra, she is fine. She is becoming more acclimated to different living situations, random dogs sniffing her out both in packs and solo, and the random happenings on a given day. Overall, most people give her plenty of attention and love. In fact, the only person who was somewhat mean to her was a tall, ugly, cheap bastard from Spokane. He hit her out of his way in Mazatlan. Thankfully she didn't get it.

No, I am talking about the heartache of some Mexican dogs. As many of you can well imagine, the dogs like me. They have a tendency to follow me when walking and take up with me rather nicely. Many will bark as Maddie and I pass on by but as soon as I say callente they quiet down and come check us out. It is not uncommon to pass a dog on the side of the road limping, most likely from being hit by a car. Matthew and I passed one in San Blas that obviously wasn't going to live much longer as it was badly hurt and sat by the road trying desperately to sit down in the hot sun. I wanted to go back and scoop that dog up but knew that I can't save all the dogs in Mexico. His reply was not to look...but sometimes I just can't help it.

So last night as I was walking up to the tienda to get a chocolate milk (from the lady that rips the Americans off-that for another blog), a small mixed dog joins our pack. At first I think that he is growling everytime Madison comes near him, as does Maddie. But then I realize he is just snorting or something of the like. He waits patiently with Maddie outside of the store and then proceeds with us home. And follows us into the backyard. I keep telling him to go home but he keeps coming back. Thats when I realize that there is blood coming out of his nose. And the noise he is making is some sort of clog in his throat and nose area. So of course I can no longer send him on his way but needed to tend to his wound. Most likely given to him by someone that hit him on the head. I gave him some food which he ate with quickness, and continually wiped the blood from his nose. I would not let him in the house so he curled up at the back door. I made him a bed from my beach towel and let him stay the night. All night I worried about him so randomly would check on him to make sure he was still breathing. The last thing I wanted to deal with was waking up to a dead dog. Thankfully in the morning he stretched and looked a little healthier and a heck of a lot happier, although the blood still seems to be coming a bit. I took him walking with us to the beach and he played like a little pup, chasing the birds and playing with the other dogs. I ended up losing him, but shall see if he comes back ¨home¨, if so, he may need to be given another home...anyone looking for a sweet male dog, 40 lbs or so? I could get him back to the states in the middle of February. But more on that later.

In all, I hope the further south I go where things aren't quite as Americanized and people are even more cruel to the perros, I don't end up with a pack of dogs begging for my attention and love. My car is just not big enough for all of the hurt, unkempt dogs. Although my heart is.