Dogs in Antigua

Our host family has two small dogs no larger than our cat Marbles. And another place I visited also has some small dogs. But many people have much larger dogs. And unlike in San Francisco, where people leash their pets and collect their poop, these dogs run around the city free and unfettered sans owner. While it may not seem that strange, it is in fact an oddly unnerving experience to encounter some of these dogs. And since I don't often meet dogs without their owners, I don't spend much time reading their minds or even thinking about what they may be thinking. Most pets I see running around in the SF appear happy with the opportunity to play and relieve themselves outside. They are idle pets of leisure.

The street walking dogs of Antugua have purpose. I have yet to discern that purpose, but most of them look like they're on their way to work: tails low, sunken eyes staring straight ahead (though they seem to navigate auto traffic well with a quick glance) and proceeding to a known destination with a modest gait. They're scruffy; some show battle scars and many are missing fur (and need a bath). They don't stop to be pet and pay people little attention other than to walk around them. What makes these dogs seem sometimes dangerous is that many of them travel in small packs of three or four, and appear willing and able to defend their territory. The other day, Agnes and I were walking down a street a block away from our current home, when barking erupted between two canine packs. Nothing came of it, but can give you the weebie jeebies to be walking down a narrow street alone except for eight to ten dogs who are announcing their intention to engage in battle (The street on which this occurred is called the “spooky street” by other students in our house, not because of the dog gangs but because someone else got mugged the night before we came).

There appear to be at least three groups of dogs roaming the streets: wild street dogs that have been abandoned, dogs with loving owners who don't feed them, and regular pets who are free to roam until they are hungry and return home for dinner. I'm told that most pets don't associate with the street dogs. When all is said and done, I'm sure the dog situation is fine here. The roving dog packs don't seem to bother the locals, so I'll reserve judgment until I can learn more about them.

As a side note, I read that a while back, grassroots reform organizations in the 60's and 70's pasted slogans on stray dogs to broadcast their message (previously, they would spray paint the hides of cows but unsympathetic landowners would then slaughter the painted cows.)