Boris

Boris

 Returning from a recent trip to a coastal town, I could not help but reflect on the sadness of dog's relationship with Man. The recent heavy rains that hit Rio's hillside towns took a toll of over 1,000 human victims, 800 of which lost their lives, but also probably at least three times as many pets who were lost or died in one way or another. Dogs such as Boris (below) are really cute pets to take care of homes, many times occupied only during the summer months. Bought in most cases for their appearances or fame for taking care of property and people, they sometimes are even trained professionally. An account given by a friend owning one such weekend leisure property tells how these dogs are now in total distress... Whimpering, begging for lap, human attention, to stay close to their weekend masters all the time, and probably to be taken away to a cozy apartment in a big city, away from natural disasters, and the whole natural environment. if possible! Their property had a limiting wall which was torn away by the recent floods. The backyard became open to all. These weekend pets are probably shut most of the time out of the house, in a damp cold kennel of sorts if lucky, having to defend the perimeter from 'invading' species, including probably other lost/displaced stray dogs and an assortment of also displaced wild species equally  disturbed by the heavy rains, including large opossums. The constant rain did its part of a psychological flogging on these poor canine home guards, torture enhanced by the noise of continuous thunderstorms for over 20 consecutive days, only to be followed by the extra 'thunder' of low flying helicopters looking for victims or the media crews just filming material damages for the 8 o'clock news. I can't imagine what Haiti was like. The following pictures were all taken on the same street, close to the beach, far away from Rio's hillside towns. But the apparent intent is the same: to show passers by there are ferocious guards on the block. Something difficult to reconcile when you get to play with pup Boris up above...I wonder how much training the owners get before they are allowed to keep a pet!